College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Norfolk State University

Norfolk, VA 5,392 Undergrads 43.1% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$26,633
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$15,282
After Aid
Median Earnings
$52,371
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$15,282
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$52,371
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate43.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients63.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time92.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS56.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
87.8%
SAT Avg
927
SAT Reading
25th: 43049775th: 520
SAT Math
25th: 39347575th: 510
ACT Composite
25th: 161875th: 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
+$473k
+$6k
-$11k
Median Cost$15k/yr
+$418k
-$49k
-$66k
Full Cost$27k/yr
+$378k
-$89k
-$107k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$15k/yr
Never
-120%
Full Cost$27k/yr
Never
-111%
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-101%

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-77%
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

Certificates

Health and Medical Administrative Services
CertCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,170
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k

Associate's Degrees

Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
MastCIP: 0999
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,444
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
MastCIP: 1110
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$92,908
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
+$150k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
MastCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$64,246
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$57,919
Earnings (4yr)
$59,973
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Urban Studies/Affairs
MastCIP: 4512
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,634
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Visual and Performing Arts, General
MastCIP: 5001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,460
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

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 degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.