College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Kentucky State University

Frankfort, KY 1,317 Undergrads 43.8% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$21,023
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$8,900
After Aid
Median Earnings
$36,382
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$8,900
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$36,382
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate43.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients64.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time90.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS49.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
92.5%
SAT Avg
910
SAT Reading
25th: 420-75th: 500
SAT Math
25th: 400-75th: 510
ACT Composite
25th: 14-75th: 20

ROI Sensitivity Analysis

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$325k
-$71k
-$159k
Median Cost$9k/yr
+$293k
-$103k
-$191k
Full Cost$21k/yr
+$249k
-$147k
-$235k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$9k/yr
Never
-597%
Full Cost$21k/yr
Never
-311%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
  • Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
  • Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
  • NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return-431%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-145%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Associate's Degrees

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$72,396
Lifetime Value Added
+$229k

Bachelor's Degrees

Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,421
Lifetime Value Added
-$275k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,854
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,353
Lifetime Value Added
-$257k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$42,345
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$33,321
Lifetime Value Added
-$211k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$32,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$223k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,019
Lifetime Value Added
-$242k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$29,265
Earnings (5yr)
$39,509
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$91,629
Lifetime Value Added
+$249k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$42,265
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,925
Lifetime Value Added
-$198k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (2yr)
$20,687
Lifetime Value Added
-$310k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.