College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, TN 16,301 Undergrads 56.0% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$24,289
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,359
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,525
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$13,359
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$54,525
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$48,541
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate56.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age22.4
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients34.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time86.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS67.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
69.1%
SAT Avg
1,121
SAT Reading
25th: 52056575th: 630
SAT Math
25th: 49054575th: 600
ACT Composite
25th: 202375th: 26

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
+$491k
+$24k
+$7k
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$443k
-$24k
-$41k
Full Cost$24k/yr
+$404k
-$63k
-$81k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
55
∞
Median Cost$13k/yr
Never
-86%
Full Cost$24k/yr
Never
-92%
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-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-66%
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

Music
CertCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,318
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$73,702
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,648
Natl Median: $66,647
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Air Transportation
BachCIP: 4901
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$80,424
Natl Median: $85,825
Lifetime Value Added
+$161k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,972
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$18,166
Earnings (4yr)
$41,965
Natl Median: $49,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$21,507
Earnings (4yr)
$38,727
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$175k
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$45,225
Natl Median: $57,640
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
BachCIP: 5010
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$46,349
Natl Median: $48,240
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Median Debt
$15,716
Earnings (4yr)
$49,543
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Median Debt
$17,626
Earnings (4yr)
$56,293
Natl Median: $58,891
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,659
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$63,928
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Median Debt
$19,914
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,420
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,031
Natl Median: $50,523
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Median Debt
$22,795
Earnings (4yr)
$45,155
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Median Debt
$15,097
Earnings (4yr)
$56,781
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$21,198
Earnings (4yr)
$96,485
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$284k
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (4yr)
$98,967
Natl Median: $95,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$303k
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,481
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,184
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Median Debt
$17,875
Earnings (4yr)
$33,179
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$223k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,701
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,599
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
BachCIP: 1500
Median Debt
$26,274
Earnings (4yr)
$80,541
Natl Median: $80,526
Lifetime Value Added
+$162k
Median Debt
$19,402
Earnings (4yr)
$83,405
Natl Median: $89,619
Lifetime Value Added
+$184k
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,105
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,464
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$39,268
Natl Median: $53,262
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Median Debt
$18,797
Earnings (4yr)
$37,274
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$187k
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (4yr)
$66,701
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$44,760
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Median Debt
$18,344
Earnings (4yr)
$54,070
Natl Median: $54,945
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Median Debt
$25,789
Earnings (4yr)
$56,405
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,283
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$51,206
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$18,904
Earnings (4yr)
$49,637
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$19,462
Earnings (4yr)
$49,932
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Median Debt
$23,044
Earnings (4yr)
$54,747
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Median Debt
$18,578
Earnings (4yr)
$43,666
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Median Debt
$21,506
Earnings (4yr)
$75,044
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$17,897
Earnings (4yr)
$60,217
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,300
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$76k
Median Debt
$19,125
Earnings (4yr)
$92,533
Natl Median: $101,649
Lifetime Value Added
+$253k
Median Debt
$20,802
Earnings (4yr)
$49,997
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$20,083
Earnings (4yr)
$43,999
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$46,796
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,353
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$273k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,192
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,281
Natl Median: $56,567
Lifetime Value Added
-$283k
Median Debt
$19,875
Earnings (4yr)
$50,169
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,940
Earnings (4yr)
$43,826
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$46,320
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,696
Earnings (4yr)
$75,061
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,805
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (4yr)
$45,451
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$16,133
Earnings (4yr)
$48,276
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,239
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$19,574
Earnings (4yr)
$48,608
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$46,252
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,543
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$93,230
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$156k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,454
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Air Transportation
MastCIP: 4901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,104
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$77,013
Natl Median: $77,545
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,500
Earnings (4yr)
$99,846
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$214k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (4yr)
$109,171
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$296k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$239k
Median Debt
$31,145
Earnings (4yr)
$56,781
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,881
Earnings (4yr)
$64,552
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,898
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$252k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,051
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,627
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$37,889
Earnings (4yr)
$76,590
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (4yr)
$50,169
Natl Median: $56,301
Lifetime Value Added
-$230k
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$31,136
Earnings (4yr)
$81,371
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Median Debt
$39,834
Earnings (4yr)
$108,477
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$290k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$20,374
Earnings (4yr)
$64,885
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$21,883
Earnings (4yr)
$62,418
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Median Debt
$39,750
Earnings (4yr)
$53,134
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$201k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,813
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$186k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,168
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,683
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, Other
DocCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,635
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,550
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,831
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
DocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,550
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
DocCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,993
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,168
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.