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Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 40,243 Undergrads 82.7% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$30,528
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$20,751
After Aid
Median Earnings
$67,253
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$20,751
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$67,253
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate82.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients20.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time92.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS80.1%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
83.9%
SAT Avg
1,261
SAT Reading
25th: 58060075th: 670
SAT Math
25th: 57061075th: 680
ACT Composite
25th: 262675th: 31
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
+$572k
+$176k
+$88k
Median Cost$21k/yr
+$498k
+$101k
+$13k
Full Cost$31k/yr
+$463k
+$66k
-$22k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
33
∞
Median Cost$21k/yr
55
18%
Full Cost$31k/yr
Never
-20%
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 Return59%
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-38%
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
Certificates
Agricultural Business and Management
CertCIP: 0101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,457
Lifetime Value Added
+$190k
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services
CertCIP: 0106
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$44,933
Lifetime Value Added
+$9k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$91,024
Lifetime Value Added
+$202k
Agricultural Business and Management
BachCIP: 0101
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$74,454
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
Agricultural Engineering
BachCIP: 1403
Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (5yr)
$81,288
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (5yr)
$48,854
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$25,023
Earnings (5yr)
$59,436
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$27,750
Earnings (5yr)
$56,484
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$22,125
Earnings (5yr)
$70,734
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$25,175
Earnings (5yr)
$66,211
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$90,299
Lifetime Value Added
+$196k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$25,314
Earnings (5yr)
$95,843
Lifetime Value Added
+$238k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$26,750
Earnings (5yr)
$57,345
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning
BachCIP: 0403
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,515
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (5yr)
$87,138
Lifetime Value Added
+$173k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5110
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$70,284
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (5yr)
$66,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$105,539
Lifetime Value Added
+$310k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$101,837
Lifetime Value Added
+$283k
Construction Engineering Technologies
BachCIP: 1510
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (5yr)
$103,264
Lifetime Value Added
+$293k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$66,284
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$26,997
Earnings (5yr)
$54,108
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
BachCIP: 5131
Median Debt
$22,375
Earnings (5yr)
$59,274
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$22,185
Earnings (5yr)
$34,587
Lifetime Value Added
-$243k
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1603
Median Debt
$21,290
Earnings (5yr)
$60,428
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
BachCIP: 2613
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$53,932
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$22,231
Earnings (5yr)
$81,373
Lifetime Value Added
+$130k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$52,112
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$102,673
Lifetime Value Added
+$289k
Engineering-Related Fields
BachCIP: 1515
Median Debt
$23,375
Earnings (5yr)
$96,014
Lifetime Value Added
+$239k
Engineering, General
BachCIP: 1401
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$96,847
Lifetime Value Added
+$245k
Engineering, Other
BachCIP: 1499
Median Debt
$21,848
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$24,966
Earnings (5yr)
$51,627
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$99,263
Lifetime Value Added
+$263k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$27,875
Earnings (5yr)
$43,016
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k
Food Science and Technology
BachCIP: 0110
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$70,225
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
Genetics
BachCIP: 2608
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,887
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$72,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$28,869
Earnings (5yr)
$61,145
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$24,580
Earnings (5yr)
$68,711
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$25,025
Earnings (5yr)
$48,421
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$21,815
Earnings (5yr)
$61,842
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$28,195
Earnings (5yr)
$47,493
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$86,826
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (5yr)
$75,882
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
International/Global Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$62,935
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$23,547
Earnings (5yr)
$58,101
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,687
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
$24,915
Earnings (2yr)
$18,771
Lifetime Value Added
-$370k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
BachCIP: 5213
Median Debt
$22,872
Earnings (2yr)
$58,673
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$88,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$179k
Materials Engineering
BachCIP: 1418
Median Debt
$24,385
Earnings (5yr)
$95,671
Lifetime Value Added
+$237k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (5yr)
$71,880
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$99,381
Lifetime Value Added
+$264k
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
BachCIP: 2605
Median Debt
$26,625
Earnings (5yr)
$60,447
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$26,130
Earnings (5yr)
$48,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$26,750
Earnings (5yr)
$40,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$23,080
Earnings (5yr)
$64,549
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
BachCIP: 2615
Median Debt
$24,232
Earnings (5yr)
$64,682
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate)
BachCIP: 2200
Median Debt
$24,753
Earnings (5yr)
$63,933
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Nutrition Sciences
BachCIP: 3019
Median Debt
$23,170
Earnings (5yr)
$59,642
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management
BachCIP: 3103
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (2yr)
$23,113
Lifetime Value Added
-$330k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$75,119
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
BachCIP: 2609
Median Debt
$22,759
Earnings (5yr)
$65,556
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
$22,550
Earnings (5yr)
$46,604
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$72,691
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$23,630
Earnings (5yr)
$56,392
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Public Policy Analysis
BachCIP: 4405
Median Debt
$25,822
Earnings (2yr)
$39,009
Lifetime Value Added
-$185k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$22,605
Earnings (5yr)
$71,448
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$79,580
Lifetime Value Added
+$116k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
$24,360
Earnings (5yr)
$62,048
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$54,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Social Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4501
Median Debt
$28,090
Earnings (5yr)
$57,882
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$24,432
Earnings (5yr)
$55,523
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$25,845
Earnings (5yr)
$60,828
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Soil Sciences
BachCIP: 0112
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$62,520
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$26,375
Earnings (5yr)
$56,180
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
$23,625
Earnings (5yr)
$94,328
Lifetime Value Added
+$226k
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 0183
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,982
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management
BachCIP: 0306
Median Debt
$28,332
Earnings (5yr)
$44,778
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Zoology/Animal Biology
BachCIP: 2607
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$49,355
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$29,004
Earnings (5yr)
$101,284
Lifetime Value Added
+$412k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$51,250
Earnings (5yr)
$129,236
Lifetime Value Added
+$651k
Business/Commerce, General
MastCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$78,686
Earnings (5yr)
$162,832
Lifetime Value Added
+$935k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$51,250
Earnings (5yr)
$64,643
Lifetime Value Added
+$97k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$27,518
Earnings (5yr)
$86,157
Lifetime Value Added
+$282k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$27,450
Earnings (5yr)
$60,170
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
MastCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,183
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (5yr)
$59,977
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$26,702
Earnings (5yr)
$68,606
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
Educational/Instructional Media Design
MastCIP: 1305
Median Debt
$24,608
Earnings (5yr)
$66,982
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
MastCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$126,212
Lifetime Value Added
+$625k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,569
Lifetime Value Added
-$187k
Food Science and Technology
MastCIP: 0110
Median Debt
$28,404
Earnings (5yr)
$107,428
Lifetime Value Added
+$465k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,996
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other
MastCIP: 4399
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (5yr)
$102,911
Lifetime Value Added
+$426k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
MastCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,805
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$119,367
Lifetime Value Added
+$567k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
MastCIP: 5213
Median Debt
$30,375
Earnings (5yr)
$124,994
Lifetime Value Added
+$615k
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$30,719
Earnings (5yr)
$106,967
Lifetime Value Added
+$461k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$51,024
Earnings (5yr)
$61,065
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$30,158
Earnings (5yr)
$51,832
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Pharmacology and Toxicology
MastCIP: 2610
Median Debt
$40,900
Earnings (5yr)
$100,592
Lifetime Value Added
+$406k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$50,523
Earnings (5yr)
$73,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
MastCIP: 0909
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$78,351
Lifetime Value Added
+$215k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$48,355
Earnings (5yr)
$121,949
Lifetime Value Added
+$589k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$43,798
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$53,886
Earnings (5yr)
$60,490
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$30,668
Earnings (5yr)
$61,863
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$66,681
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
Graduate Certificates
Educational Administration and Supervision
Gr-CertCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$66,395
Lifetime Value Added
+$187k
Public Health
Gr-CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$74,076
Lifetime Value Added
+$259k
Doctoral Degrees
Anthropology
DocCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
DocCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,875
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
DocCIP: 2613
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$58,181
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$97,048
Lifetime Value Added
+$200k
Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,005
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Professional Degrees
Educational Administration and Supervision
ProfCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$114,920
Lifetime Value Added
+$330k
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$103,630
Earnings (5yr)
$91,995
Lifetime Value Added
+$163k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$251,502
Earnings (5yr)
$208,932
Lifetime Value Added
+$1005k
Veterinary Medicine
ProfCIP: 0180
Median Debt
$177,857
Earnings (5yr)
$124,687
Lifetime Value Added
+$401k
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.