College ROI

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Marshall University

Huntington, WV 7,266 Undergrads 54.2% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$22,022
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$7,502
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,141
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$7,502
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$54,141
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$46,354
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate54.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age21.5
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients44.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time93.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS65.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
95.7%
SAT Avg
1,061
SAT Reading
25th: 48054075th: 590
SAT Math
25th: 43050075th: 560
ACT Composite
25th: 192275th: 24

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
+$488k
+$21k
+$4k
Median Cost$8k/yr
+$461k
-$6k
-$23k
Full Cost$22k/yr
+$409k
-$58k
-$76k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
59
∞
Median Cost$8k/yr
Never
-87%
Full Cost$22k/yr
Never
-95%
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-69%

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-65%
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

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,906
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,682
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,472
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,923
Earnings (4yr)
$72,830
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$248k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$19,543
Earnings (4yr)
$70,425
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
Median Debt
$20,081
Earnings (4yr)
$67,667
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$85k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,901
Earnings (4yr)
$44,836
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$54,659
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$70,073
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$103k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$11,953
Earnings (5yr)
$69,097
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$85k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,952
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$263k
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,037
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Median Debt
$28,375
Earnings (4yr)
$69,565
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
Median Debt
$18,869
Earnings (5yr)
$68,707
Natl Median: $78,929
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
Median Debt
$26,948
Earnings (4yr)
$79,371
Natl Median: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
+$174k
Median Debt
$24,899
Earnings (4yr)
$49,559
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$55,840
Natl Median: $55,753
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,642
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$72,922
Natl Median: $89,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
Median Debt
$26,369
Earnings (4yr)
$39,402
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$63,906
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
Median Debt
$23,883
Earnings (4yr)
$32,723
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$206k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$42,925
Natl Median: $61,911
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$20,100
Earnings (4yr)
$41,214
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Insurance
BachCIP: 5217
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,472
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$25,136
Earnings (4yr)
$44,277
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Median Debt
$23,758
Earnings (4yr)
$43,714
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,508
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$297k
Literature
BachCIP: 2314
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,173
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$24,625
Earnings (4yr)
$58,293
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,602
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,972
Natl Median: $48,754
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,995
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Median Debt
$23,498
Earnings (4yr)
$50,832
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$25,158
Earnings (4yr)
$45,309
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,875
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,525
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,750
Earnings (4yr)
$77,609
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$161k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$23,649
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$277k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$25,041
Earnings (4yr)
$41,684
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$22,888
Earnings (4yr)
$47,581
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,250
Natl Median: $88,036
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Median Debt
$25,384
Earnings (4yr)
$43,659
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,656
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Median Debt
$27,111
Earnings (4yr)
$35,126
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
-$185k

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $129,561
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,931
Earnings (4yr)
$77,136
Natl Median: $125,988
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$63,046
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,142
Earnings (4yr)
$56,697
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,927
Natl Median: $62,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$36,018
Earnings (4yr)
$54,095
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$182k
Median Debt
$27,519
Earnings (4yr)
$72,064
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,215
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,224
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$314k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$38,784
Earnings (4yr)
$57,777
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$29,802
Earnings (4yr)
$67,458
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Journalism
MastCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,034
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,441
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physical Sciences, General
MastCIP: 4001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,703
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$36,289
Earnings (4yr)
$54,560
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$177k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$97,764
Natl Median: $103,349
Lifetime Value Added
+$207k
Median Debt
$31,160
Earnings (4yr)
$112,452
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$335k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,450
Natl Median: $82,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$23,077
Earnings (4yr)
$61,852
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$43,587
Earnings (4yr)
$49,548
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$225k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,009
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$313k
Median Debt
$47,662
Earnings (4yr)
$51,701
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$204k
Median Debt
$33,953
Earnings (4yr)
$48,151
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$239k
Median Debt
$26,753
Earnings (4yr)
$50,404
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$217k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,299
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,606
Natl Median: $74,263
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,517
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,244
Earnings (4yr)
$59,094
Natl Median: $65,965
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Education, Other
Gr-CertCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,921
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,291
Earnings (4yr)
$68,244
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,168
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,959
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,655
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,169
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
Gr-CertCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,297
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,774
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,709
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
DocCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $87,373
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$187,960
Earnings (4yr)
$235,983
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$1053k

Professional Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,514
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$150,015
Earnings (4yr)
$134,319
Natl Median: $112,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$321k
Median Debt
$123,600
Earnings (4yr)
$124,945
Natl Median: $138,348
Lifetime Value Added
+$252k
Median Debt
$117,799
Earnings (4yr)
$76,821
Natl Median: $81,641
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k

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.