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Kentucky State University
Frankfort, KY 1,309 Undergrads 44.0% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$21,727
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$8,040
After Aid
Median Earnings
$46,766
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$8,040
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$46,766
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate44.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients68.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time88.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS49.3%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
96.1%
SAT Avg
870
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: 14-75th: 17
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
+$426k
-$40k
-$58k
Median Cost$8k/yr
+$397k
-$69k
-$87k
Full Cost$22k/yr
+$348k
-$119k
-$136k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$8k/yr
Never
-300%
Full Cost$22k/yr
Never
-174%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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-204%
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-97%
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 (4yr)
$88,912
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$391k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Agriculture, General
BachCIP: 0100
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,421
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$272k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$42,392
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,353
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
-$254k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$46,767
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$33,321
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$208k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,363
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,019
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$239k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$29,265
Earnings (4yr)
$42,743
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$91,629
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$252k
Social Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$42,265
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,925
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$194k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$34,522
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k
Master's Degrees
Business/Commerce, General
MastCIP: 5201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,988
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management
MastCIP: 0303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,052
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
MastCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), 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 for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.