College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Missouri Western State University

Saint Joseph, MO 2,372 Undergrads 38.2% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$20,282
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,638
After Aid
Median Earnings
$42,647
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$12,638
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$42,647
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate38.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients41.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time88.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS65.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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
+$377k
-$19k
-$107k
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$332k
-$65k
-$153k
Full Cost$20k/yr
+$304k
-$92k
-$180k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$13k/yr
Never
-336%
Full Cost$20k/yr
Never
-247%
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-325%

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-122%
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

Bachelor's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$60,816
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$24,935
Earnings (5yr)
$48,681
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$22,810
Earnings (5yr)
$50,170
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$27,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$258k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$18,350
Earnings (5yr)
$65,401
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Construction Engineering Technologies
BachCIP: 1510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,439
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$19,947
Earnings (5yr)
$46,095
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,598
Lifetime Value Added
-$250k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Lifetime Value Added
-$328k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$19,381
Earnings (2yr)
$39,741
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,207
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$17,875
Earnings (5yr)
$46,279
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$292k
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$59,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$21,102
Earnings (5yr)
$49,458
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management
BachCIP: 3103
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,623
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$25,753
Earnings (5yr)
$35,074
Lifetime Value Added
-$210k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$72,447
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$44,133
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,508
Lifetime Value Added
-$315k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$19,493
Earnings (5yr)
$39,329
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$20,371
Earnings (2yr)
$30,409
Lifetime Value Added
-$234k

Master's Degrees

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
MastCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,087
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k

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.