College ROI

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Louisiana State University at Alexandria

Alexandria, LA 5,632 Undergrads 39.6% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$18,580
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,105
After Aid
Median Earnings
$55,108
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$12,105
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$55,108
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$46,481
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate39.6%
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 Age24.1
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients44.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time62.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS65.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
92.1%
SAT Avg
1,022
SAT Reading
25th: 49056575th: 610
SAT Math
25th: 48052575th: 610
ACT Composite
25th: 172075th: 22

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)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$489k
+$19k
+$3k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$446k
-$24k
-$41k
Full Cost$19k/yr
+$422k
-$48k
-$64k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
60
∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
Never
-93%
Full Cost$19k/yr
Never
-96%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.⚠️ 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

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-66%

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-59%

Program ROI Analysis

These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,798
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,472
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$10,775
Earnings (4yr)
$34,129
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Median Debt
$23,065
Earnings (4yr)
$83,238
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$335k

Bachelor's Degrees

Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,496
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Median Debt
$23,618
Earnings (4yr)
$49,772
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,560
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Median Debt
$20,550
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,614
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,245
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,300
Earnings (4yr)
$47,171
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$11,848
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,513
Earnings (4yr)
$44,069
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$87,651
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$223k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,899
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k

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.