College ROI

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Minnesota State University Moorhead

Moorhead, MN 3,072 Undergrads 59.1% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$25,197
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$17,997
After Aid
Median Earnings
$55,083
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$17,997
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$55,083
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$50,527
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate59.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age22.5
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients29.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time84.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
58.8%
SAT Avg
1,090
SAT Reading
25th: -54575th: -
SAT Math
25th: -56575th: -
ACT Composite
25th: 182275th: 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
+$496k
+$29k
+$11k
Median Cost$18k/yr
+$431k
-$36k
-$53k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$405k
-$62k
-$79k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
52
∞
Median Cost$18k/yr
Never
-82%
Full Cost$25k/yr
Never
-87%
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-58%

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
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,179
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$171k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,116
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,369
Natl Median: $53,418
Lifetime Value Added
+$302k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,104
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,907
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,309
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,570
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (4yr)
$65,476
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,771
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
-$250k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,787
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
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 (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$64,455
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Median Debt
$16,557
Earnings (4yr)
$64,466
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,838
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Median Debt
$20,029
Earnings (4yr)
$57,260
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$66,325
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
Median Debt
$14,748
Earnings (4yr)
$93,431
Natl Median: $95,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$244k
Median Debt
$17,792
Earnings (4yr)
$55,577
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Median Debt
$26,100
Earnings (4yr)
$48,976
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,964
Earnings (4yr)
$45,483
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$36,495
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$211k
Median Debt
$18,099
Earnings (4yr)
$67,054
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
Median Debt
$21,764
Earnings (4yr)
$40,960
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Gerontology
BachCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,051
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,942
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$12,779
Earnings (4yr)
$74,016
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$260k
Median Debt
$25,155
Earnings (4yr)
$50,671
Natl Median: $53,266
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,960
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$266k
Median Debt
$24,593
Earnings (2yr)
$31,133
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$247k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
$20,096
Earnings (2yr)
$30,984
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$248k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$49,492
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Median Debt
$19,042
Earnings (4yr)
$53,036
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$86,563
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$191k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$19,909
Earnings (4yr)
$50,419
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$46,439
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,153
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,987
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Median Debt
$25,165
Earnings (4yr)
$45,142
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$49,685
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,259
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$58,402
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,259
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
-$833
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,988
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Median Debt
$40,116
Earnings (4yr)
$56,896
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$65,104
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Median Debt
$19,972
Earnings (4yr)
$72,151
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$94,536
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$159k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,684
Earnings (4yr)
$62,753
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Median Debt
$42,260
Earnings (4yr)
$51,358
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$227k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,774
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,129
Natl Median: $70,514
Lifetime Value Added
-$246k
Median Debt
$17,117
Earnings (4yr)
$93,709
Natl Median: $78,026
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k

Other Programs

Biology, General
DegCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,021
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.