College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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New Mexico State University-Dona Ana

Las Cruces, NM 4,812 Undergrads 25.5% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$12,541
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$4,621
After Aid
Median Earnings
$39,067
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$4,621
Peer Midpoint: $9,014
Earnings (10yr)$39,067
Peer Midpoint: $40,397
Graduation Rate25.5%
Peer Midpoint: 32.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients48.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time55.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS55.4%

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
+$393k
+$4k
-$91k
Median Cost$5k/yr
+$385k
-$4k
-$100k
Full Cost$13k/yr
+$370k
-$19k
-$114k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$5k/yr
Never
-1176%
Full Cost$13k/yr
Never
-497%
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-776%

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-193%
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

Associate's Degrees

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$9,000
Earnings (5yr)
$53,700
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$39,002
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
AssocCIP: 5204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$18,553
Lifetime Value Added
-$285k
Business/Commerce, General
AssocCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$7,542
Earnings (5yr)
$40,116
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$8,550
Earnings (5yr)
$36,982
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Culinary Arts and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1205
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$14,442
Lifetime Value Added
-$318k
Data Processing
AssocCIP: 1103
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$36,600
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,170
Lifetime Value Added
-$476
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,370
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1505
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,674
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Graphic Communications
AssocCIP: 1003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$25,413
Lifetime Value Added
-$215k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$27,977
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)
AssocCIP: 4702
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Hospitality Administration/Management
AssocCIP: 5209
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$29,697
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$9,000
Earnings (5yr)
$32,811
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Precision Metal Working
AssocCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,881
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Public Health
AssocCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$27,674
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$13,590
Earnings (5yr)
$80,465
Lifetime Value Added
+$307k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
AssocCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$32,385
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$30,070
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k

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.