College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Middle Georgia State University

Macon, GA 6,655 Undergrads 28.6% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$20,189
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,922
After Aid
Median Earnings
$40,863
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$13,922
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$40,863
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate28.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients45.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time63.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS65.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
99.8%
SAT Avg
1,055
SAT Reading
25th: 48053275th: 610
SAT Math
25th: 46052075th: 570
ACT Composite
25th: 162275th: 22

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
+$362k
-$34k
-$122k
Median Cost$14k/yr
+$312k
-$84k
-$172k
Full Cost$20k/yr
+$290k
-$107k
-$195k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$14k/yr
Never
-344%
Full Cost$20k/yr
Never
-268%
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 Return-360%

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-129%
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

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$42,746
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,746
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$14,883
Earnings (5yr)
$36,873
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$17,699
Earnings (5yr)
$76,586
Lifetime Value Added
+$256k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,041
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k

Bachelor's Degrees

Air Transportation
BachCIP: 4901
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$73,450
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
BachCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$76,337
Lifetime Value Added
+$116k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (5yr)
$45,479
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$55,026
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
BachCIP: 0999
Median Debt
$24,750
Earnings (5yr)
$50,718
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Community Organization and Advocacy
BachCIP: 4402
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$40,354
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$21,422
Earnings (5yr)
$72,023
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$26,474
Earnings (5yr)
$39,967
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$23,340
Lifetime Value Added
-$303k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$27,225
Earnings (5yr)
$44,248
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$15,548
Earnings (5yr)
$48,575
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,208
Lifetime Value Added
-$177k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$36,550
Lifetime Value Added
-$202k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$16,425
Earnings (5yr)
$80,931
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (5yr)
$47,307
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k

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.