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Nicholls State University
Thibodaux, LA 4,772 Undergrads 50.4% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$21,519
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,091
After Aid
Median Earnings
$45,454
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$12,091
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$45,454
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate50.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients38.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time89.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS64.8%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
96.0%
SAT Avg
1,088
SAT Reading
25th: 49056375th: 600
SAT Math
25th: 43857175th: 545
ACT Composite
25th: 182375th: 24
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
+$400k
+$4k
-$84k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$357k
-$40k
-$128k
Full Cost$22k/yr
+$323k
-$74k
-$162k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
Never
-293%
Full Cost$22k/yr
Never
-209%
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-262%
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-109%
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
Mining and Petroleum Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1509
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$75,285
Lifetime Value Added
+$248k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$20,463
Earnings (5yr)
$46,209
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,666
Earnings (5yr)
$50,054
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$49,085
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$30,372
Lifetime Value Added
-$248k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,500
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Culinary Arts and Related Services
BachCIP: 1205
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$38,417
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
BachCIP: 5131
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,055
Lifetime Value Added
-$253k
Engineering-Related Technologies
BachCIP: 1511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$73,446
Lifetime Value Added
+$135k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$19,423
Earnings (5yr)
$36,865
Lifetime Value Added
-$193k
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1901
Median Debt
$28,250
Earnings (5yr)
$42,620
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$20,966
Earnings (2yr)
$20,687
Lifetime Value Added
-$321k
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
BachCIP: 5100
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$50,821
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (5yr)
$37,727
Lifetime Value Added
-$185k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$23,825
Earnings (5yr)
$66,793
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$21,462
Earnings (5yr)
$50,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Mining and Petroleum Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1509
Median Debt
$17,417
Earnings (5yr)
$71,690
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$21,898
Earnings (5yr)
$41,545
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,106
Earnings (5yr)
$41,452
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$24,738
Earnings (5yr)
$76,027
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$39,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$42,698
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$21,008
Earnings (5yr)
$44,812
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Master's Degrees
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$19,884
Earnings (5yr)
$84,450
Lifetime Value Added
+$284k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$41,772
Earnings (5yr)
$56,635
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$23,725
Earnings (5yr)
$54,353
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$19,636
Earnings (5yr)
$58,090
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$48,211
Earnings (5yr)
$132,991
Lifetime Value Added
+$699k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,908
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,058
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
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.