College ROI

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Lamar University

Beaumont, TX 8,150 Undergrads 46.2% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$22,254
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$9,366
After Aid
Median Earnings
$66,816
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$9,366
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$66,816
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Warning: This school's reported earnings inflated significantly (+35%) when the Dept of Education excluded non-graduates from the dataset. Take caution when comparing.
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$49,652
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate46.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age25.4
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients45.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time77.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS71.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
86.4%
SAT Avg
1,061
SAT Reading
25th: 48051075th: 580
SAT Math
25th: 45049575th: 560
ACT Composite
25th: 182075th: 25

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$589k
+$123k
+$105k
Median Cost$9k/yr
+$556k
+$89k
+$71k
Full Cost$22k/yr
+$509k
+$42k
+$25k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
32
∞
Median Cost$9k/yr
37
212%
Full Cost$22k/yr
50
31%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return157%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-4%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$87,924
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$233k
Median Debt
$22,856
Earnings (4yr)
$54,319
Natl Median: $45,044
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,640
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,674
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Median Debt
$24,956
Earnings (4yr)
$66,279
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Median Debt
$26,915
Earnings (4yr)
$56,206
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$101,018
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$333k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$89,250
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$243k
Median Debt
$24,233
Earnings (4yr)
$49,746
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Median Debt
$19,125
Earnings (4yr)
$54,087
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Median Debt
$26,071
Earnings (4yr)
$85,680
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$216k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,303
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,509
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,341
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,301
Earnings (4yr)
$103,037
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$348k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,897
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Median Debt
$26,160
Earnings (4yr)
$70,799
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
Median Debt
$19,795
Earnings (4yr)
$63,429
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,925
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$199k
Median Debt
$18,760
Earnings (4yr)
$58,631
Natl Median: $54,945
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,358
Earnings (4yr)
$57,524
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,961
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,568
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$91,806
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$262k
Median Debt
$21,297
Earnings (4yr)
$87,113
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$226k
Median Debt
$22,781
Earnings (4yr)
$50,753
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$74,165
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$128k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,355
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,598
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Median Debt
$27,500
Earnings (4yr)
$97,159
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$303k
Median Debt
$24,750
Earnings (4yr)
$54,116
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$20,768
Earnings (4yr)
$53,904
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,574
Earnings (4yr)
$53,038
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Median Debt
$20,014
Earnings (4yr)
$93,709
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$277k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,453
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$26,370
Earnings (4yr)
$44,286
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$24,750
Earnings (4yr)
$48,609
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$98,886
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$213k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$29,799
Earnings (4yr)
$109,579
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$307k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$29,355
Earnings (4yr)
$66,540
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Median Debt
$36,553
Earnings (4yr)
$68,173
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,207
Earnings (4yr)
$63,452
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,200
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$70,026
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$66,550
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$71,015
Natl Median: $120,215
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,629
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$67,813
Natl Median: $60,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities
MastCIP: 5132
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,487
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,197
Earnings (4yr)
$60,234
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$32,654
Earnings (4yr)
$53,206
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$193k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,608
Earnings (4yr)
$64,598
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,304
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
$13,679
Earnings (4yr)
$73,046
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,147
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,343
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$52,728
Earnings (4yr)
$105,682
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$103k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,630
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,739
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 decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.