College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Minnesota State University-Mankato

Mankato, MN 11,703 Undergrads 56.9% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$23,995
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$19,139
After Aid
Median Earnings
$64,235
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$19,139
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$64,235
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$56,922
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate56.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age21.3
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients23.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time85.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS80.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
88.4%
SAT Avg
1,150
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: 212275th: 25

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
+$569k
+$102k
+$85k
Median Cost$19k/yr
+$500k
+$34k
+$16k
Full Cost$24k/yr
+$483k
+$16k
-$1k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
33
∞
Median Cost$19k/yr
53
23%
Full Cost$24k/yr
Never
-2%
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 Return96%

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-23%
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

Anthropology
CertCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,283
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,079
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,556
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,162
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,615
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,315
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,174
Natl Median: $58,705
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,448
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,309
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$51,245
Natl Median: $34,631
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
$11,349
Earnings (4yr)
$45,379
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$21,505
Earnings (4yr)
$73,726
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
Air Transportation
BachCIP: 4901
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$103,858
Natl Median: $85,825
Lifetime Value Added
+$319k
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
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
BachCIP: 5010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,240
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,889
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$225k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,198
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Biotechnology
BachCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,097
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,300
Earnings (4yr)
$70,486
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,989
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Cognitive Science
BachCIP: 3025
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,496
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,779
Earnings (4yr)
$56,119
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,396
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Median Debt
$20,290
Earnings (4yr)
$95,398
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$255k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,856
Natl Median: $83,742
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,675
Earnings (4yr)
$102,090
Natl Median: $95,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$306k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$64,585
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
$26,100
Earnings (4yr)
$37,959
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
-$202k
Median Debt
$21,355
Earnings (4yr)
$72,882
Natl Median: $68,061
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Median Debt
$23,425
Earnings (4yr)
$32,199
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$252k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$20,407
Earnings (4yr)
$80,795
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$143k
Median Debt
$24,896
Earnings (4yr)
$85,655
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$180k
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,599
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$13,936
Earnings (4yr)
$82,903
Natl Median: $89,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$159k
Median Debt
$21,374
Earnings (4yr)
$45,688
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Median Debt
$22,775
Earnings (4yr)
$50,694
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Median Debt
$22,375
Earnings (4yr)
$52,041
Natl Median: $48,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,492
Earnings (4yr)
$74,852
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
Median Debt
$26,125
Earnings (4yr)
$47,822
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,873
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,022
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$21,241
Earnings (4yr)
$52,550
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$59,187
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Median Debt
$27,100
Earnings (4yr)
$83,115
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$161k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,079
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,369
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Literature
BachCIP: 2314
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,173
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$68,772
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$70,257
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Median Debt
$25,530
Earnings (4yr)
$80,482
Natl Median: $82,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
Median Debt
$23,562
Earnings (4yr)
$85,286
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$177k
Median Debt
$25,736
Earnings (4yr)
$57,266
Natl Median: $52,119
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,001
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,513
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,532
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,840
Earnings (4yr)
$59,997
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,608
Earnings (4yr)
$52,859
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Median Debt
$13,225
Earnings (4yr)
$82,429
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$156k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,825
Earnings (4yr)
$55,905
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$19,871
Earnings (4yr)
$56,858
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$25,625
Earnings (4yr)
$51,618
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Median Debt
$21,805
Earnings (4yr)
$51,630
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$21,722
Earnings (4yr)
$57,506
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$48,632
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,337
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,836
Natl Median: $62,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$88,187
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$125,059
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$423k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,665
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$99,934
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$204k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,662
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Median Debt
$34,700
Earnings (4yr)
$62,812
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$20,169
Earnings (4yr)
$65,106
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$83,189
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,574
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$77,544
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities
MastCIP: 5132
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,487
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,524
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,050
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,051
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: $75,122
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
Outdoor Education
MastCIP: 3106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,445
Natl Median: $59,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$276k
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,681
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$126,466
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$414k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,250
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$211k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$27,558
Earnings (4yr)
$71,402
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,516
Earnings (4yr)
$62,401
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$19,344
Earnings (4yr)
$60,121
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$37,178
Earnings (4yr)
$52,554
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$218k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,922
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,887
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,634
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,363
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,959
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
Gr-CertCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,756
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,147
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

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,794
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Median Debt
$32,314
Earnings (4yr)
$98,373
Natl Median: $78,026
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k

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.