College ROI

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Mississippi State University

Mississippi State, MS 18,397 Undergrads 62.7% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$29,267
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$17,595
After Aid
Median Earnings
$59,311
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$17,595
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$59,311
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$51,513
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate62.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age21.2
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients29.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time91.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS73.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
77.6%
SAT Avg
1,219
SAT Reading
25th: 56058075th: 670
SAT Math
25th: 54057575th: 680
ACT Composite
25th: 212675th: 29

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
+$530k
+$63k
+$46k
Median Cost$18k/yr
+$467k
-$27
-$18k
Full Cost$29k/yr
+$425k
-$42k
-$60k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
39
∞
Median Cost$18k/yr
Never
-28%
Full Cost$29k/yr
Never
-57%
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-7%

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-55%
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

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$18,832
Earnings (4yr)
$70,904
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$73k
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$88,444
Natl Median: $98,207
Lifetime Value Added
+$207k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$78,998
Natl Median: $66,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$135k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,160
Natl Median: $53,588
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$19,719
Earnings (4yr)
$52,755
Natl Median: $49,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,964
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$329k
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$46,129
Natl Median: $57,640
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,494
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (4yr)
$69,699
Natl Median: $66,914
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Median Debt
$23,248
Earnings (4yr)
$44,979
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$22,296
Earnings (4yr)
$51,221
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$74,542
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,993
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$95,968
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$264k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$20,938
Earnings (4yr)
$81,203
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,176
Natl Median: $50,523
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$48,493
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$82,852
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$164k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$85,275
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$183k
Median Debt
$30,500
Earnings (4yr)
$94,068
Natl Median: $95,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$250k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$22,055
Earnings (4yr)
$48,805
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,716
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,308
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,037
Earnings (4yr)
$106,039
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$341k
Engineering, Other
BachCIP: 1499
Median Debt
$18,947
Earnings (4yr)
$91,124
Natl Median: $93,989
Lifetime Value Added
+$227k
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$35,877
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$215k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,018
Natl Median: $48,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$186k
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$70,367
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
Median Debt
$23,767
Earnings (4yr)
$39,940
Natl Median: $70,873
Lifetime Value Added
-$180k
Forestry
BachCIP: 0305
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,499
Natl Median: $58,784
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$62,082
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$36,614
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$208k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$41,439
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$92,332
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$237k
Median Debt
$21,875
Earnings (4yr)
$79,068
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$135k
Median Debt
$22,254
Earnings (4yr)
$61,421
Natl Median: $60,369
Lifetime Value Added
-$631
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,387
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,592
Earnings (4yr)
$41,446
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$74,778
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$74,780
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$103k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$19,552
Earnings (4yr)
$61,364
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$1k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$22,050
Earnings (4yr)
$69,787
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Median Debt
$21,636
Earnings (4yr)
$93,893
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$249k
Median Debt
$24,490
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,582
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,512
Earnings (4yr)
$42,399
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $104,823
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
Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,653
Natl Median: $56,567
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Median Debt
$25,469
Earnings (4yr)
$54,325
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$41,986
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$162k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (4yr)
$37,656
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$199k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$41,627
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$50,503
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$40,431
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$175k
Median Debt
$15,750
Earnings (4yr)
$49,541
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$36,617
Natl Median: $44,115
Lifetime Value Added
-$208k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$38,939
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
Median Debt
$21,625
Earnings (4yr)
$45,445
Natl Median: $45,338
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$14,957
Earnings (4yr)
$90,234
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $122,434
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,332
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,454
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,913
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)
-
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,090
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,950
Earnings (4yr)
$128,049
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$452k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$110,821
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$302k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,557
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$234k
Median Debt
$31,009
Earnings (4yr)
$57,090
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,215
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Forestry
MastCIP: 0305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$29,609
Earnings (4yr)
$86,410
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
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: $119,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,306
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,092
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: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Nutrition Sciences
MastCIP: 3019
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,622
Natl Median: $67,126
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,500
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,427
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$225k
Median Debt
$48,683
Earnings (4yr)
$58,226
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$161k
Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$85,149
Natl Median: $114,810
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
Median Debt
$33,030
Earnings (4yr)
$46,167
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$276k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,208
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$350k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $119,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,299
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,772
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,848
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,507
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $113,566
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $154,538
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,031
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,635
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $157,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,630
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, Other
DocCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $140,028
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,039
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
DocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,550
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,538
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $137,148
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $87,076
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,943
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,908
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
DocCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,618
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $135,581
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,436
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Veterinary Medicine
ProfCIP: 0180
Median Debt
$169,759
Earnings (4yr)
$137,892
Natl Median: $131,316
Lifetime Value Added
+$311k

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.