College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Morningside University

Sioux City, IA 1,166 Undergrads 58.1% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$50,429
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$23,169
After Aid
Median Earnings
$55,494
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$23,169
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$55,494
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate58.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients31.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time94.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS80.4%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
70.6%
SAT Avg
910
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: 12-75th: 22

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
+$481k
+$85k
-$3k
Median Cost$23k/yr
+$398k
+$2k
-$86k
Full Cost$50k/yr
+$300k
-$97k
-$184k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$23k/yr
Never
-104%
Full Cost$50k/yr
Never
-102%
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-93%

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-86%
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

Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$26,478
Earnings (5yr)
$69,868
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$61,287
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,719
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$27,669
Lifetime Value Added
-$297k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,019
Lifetime Value Added
-$293k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$27,726
Earnings (5yr)
$73,081
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$25,875
Earnings (5yr)
$47,428
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,164
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k

Master's Degrees

Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
$7,400
Earnings (5yr)
$65,956
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$5,639
Earnings (5yr)
$61,817
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k

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.