College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Northeastern State University

Tahlequah, OK 4,772 Undergrads 49.5% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$21,551
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,710
After Aid
Median Earnings
$50,752
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$12,710
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$50,752
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$45,379
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate49.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age25.0
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients47.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time75.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS68.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
99.6%
SAT Avg
1,049
SAT Reading
25th: 43851775th: 593
SAT Math
25th: 42846575th: 543
ACT Composite
25th: 182075th: 23

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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$460k
-$7k
-$24k
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$414k
-$53k
-$70k
Full Cost$22k/yr
+$382k
-$85k
-$102k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$13k/yr
Never
-154%
Full Cost$22k/yr
Never
-132%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-131%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-79%
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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Homeland Security
CertCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,995
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$18,225
Earnings (4yr)
$65,781
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,140
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$16,250
Earnings (4yr)
$53,387
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Median Debt
$17,829
Earnings (4yr)
$60,651
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Median Debt
$14,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,981
Natl Median: $66,697
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,565
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,854
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Median Debt
$15,150
Earnings (4yr)
$53,271
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$67,854
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Median Debt
$18,054
Earnings (4yr)
$50,268
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,484
Natl Median: $55,753
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering Physics
BachCIP: 1412
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,154
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other
BachCIP: 1599
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,678
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,750
Earnings (4yr)
$38,731
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,275
Natl Median: $48,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$61,112
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$36,159
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$201k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,245
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$18,788
Earnings (4yr)
$47,608
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Homeland Security
BachCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,193
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,506
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$41,705
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,328
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$15,750
Earnings (4yr)
$54,577
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,978
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Median Debt
$19,297
Earnings (4yr)
$57,549
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Non-Professional Legal Studies
BachCIP: 2200
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,959
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,474
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$20,548
Earnings (4yr)
$48,057
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Median Debt
$14,924
Earnings (4yr)
$69,276
Natl Median: $86,525
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$96,702
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$288k
Median Debt
$18,579
Earnings (4yr)
$46,102
Natl Median: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,805
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$54,943
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$18,027
Earnings (5yr)
$30,680
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$248k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,771
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$18,547
Earnings (4yr)
$44,064
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Median Debt
$17,499
Earnings (4yr)
$43,116
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,474
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$93,687
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,936
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$16,000
Earnings (4yr)
$81,944
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Median Debt
$40,699
Earnings (4yr)
$65,037
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$33,410
Earnings (4yr)
$60,979
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Median Debt
$28,383
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,420
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$359k
Median Debt
$32,894
Earnings (4yr)
$69,399
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities
MastCIP: 5132
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$68,219
Natl Median: $100,487
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Median Debt
$28,772
Earnings (4yr)
$47,552
Natl Median: $56,301
Lifetime Value Added
-$254k
Median Debt
$46,939
Earnings (4yr)
$82,883
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Median Debt
$27,917
Earnings (4yr)
$51,106
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$220k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,366
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$198k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,560
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$206k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,763
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Optometry
ProfCIP: 5117
Median Debt
$158,826
Earnings (4yr)
$119,476
Natl Median: $131,525
Lifetime Value Added
+$193k

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.