College ROI

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Murray State University

Murray, KY 6,688 Undergrads 60.8% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$23,485
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$9,096
After Aid
Median Earnings
$50,487
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$9,096
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$50,487
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$44,737
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate60.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age22.3
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients37.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time91.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS67.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
85.7%
SAT Avg
1,133
SAT Reading
25th: 48055075th: 600
SAT Math
25th: 46053075th: 570
ACT Composite
25th: 192475th: 26

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
+$458k
-$9k
-$27k
Median Cost$9k/yr
+$425k
-$42k
-$59k
Full Cost$23k/yr
+$373k
-$94k
-$111k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$9k/yr
Never
-182%
Full Cost$23k/yr
Never
-132%
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-133%

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-82%
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other
AssocCIP: 0199
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,835
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,519
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$18,318
Earnings (4yr)
$64,269
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other
BachCIP: 0199
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,686
Natl Median: $65,543
Lifetime Value Added
-$91
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,786
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
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$24,033
Earnings (4yr)
$48,370
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Median Debt
$21,061
Earnings (4yr)
$63,679
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$51,818
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$24,593
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$87,573
Natl Median: $76,549
Lifetime Value Added
+$231k
Median Debt
$19,369
Earnings (4yr)
$50,387
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$23,475
Earnings (4yr)
$67,173
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Median Debt
$21,411
Earnings (4yr)
$48,437
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,862
Natl Median: $71,753
Lifetime Value Added
+$9k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$15,182
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$361k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,642
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,304
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering Physics
BachCIP: 1412
Median Debt
$19,521
Earnings (4yr)
$86,713
Natl Median: $89,154
Lifetime Value Added
+$224k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$41,383
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,263
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$38,192
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,349
Natl Median: $54,945
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$269k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,283
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (4yr)
$46,739
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,037
Earnings (4yr)
$66,204
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,569
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$201k
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (4yr)
$41,797
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$21,997
Earnings (4yr)
$56,780
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,771
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$26,731
Earnings (4yr)
$36,697
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$177k
Outdoor Education
BachCIP: 3106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,157
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$20,699
Earnings (4yr)
$51,848
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Median Debt
$21,235
Earnings (4yr)
$58,265
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Median Debt
$24,561
Earnings (4yr)
$84,705
Natl Median: $86,525
Lifetime Value Added
+$209k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,127
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Median Debt
$18,203
Earnings (4yr)
$72,462
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$116k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$44,800
Natl Median: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (4yr)
$41,165
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$21,816
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,687
Earnings (4yr)
$36,657
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$177k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$22,925
Earnings (4yr)
$57,764
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$543
Median Debt
$20,801
Earnings (4yr)
$38,132
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,752
Earnings (4yr)
$40,839
Natl Median: $44,115
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Median Debt
$21,417
Earnings (4yr)
$43,844
Natl Median: $45,338
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k

Master's Degrees

Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other
MastCIP: 0199
Median Debt
$24,104
Earnings (4yr)
$58,618
Natl Median: $58,313
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$28,786
Earnings (4yr)
$96,691
Natl Median: $125,988
Lifetime Value Added
+$195k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$42,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,136
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Median Debt
$39,986
Earnings (4yr)
$51,766
Natl Median: $67,597
Lifetime Value Added
-$207k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,800
Earnings (4yr)
$60,155
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
MastCIP: 1500
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $111,169
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,523
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
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: $112,705
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: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,638
Natl Median: $80,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$208k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$107,129
Natl Median: $103,349
Lifetime Value Added
+$286k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,216
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,802
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$284k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,384
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$261k
Median Debt
$20,093
Earnings (4yr)
$44,101
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$281k
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,821
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$216k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,959
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,140
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,095
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,774
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,149
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Median Debt
$92,445
Earnings (4yr)
$189,508
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$720k

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.