College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, KY 8,246 Undergrads 51.3% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$19,725
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$8,191
After Aid
Median Earnings
$58,429
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$8,191
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$58,429
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$50,220
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate51.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age22.2
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients30.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time82.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS71.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
67.7%
SAT Avg
1,087
SAT Reading
25th: 47353575th: 590
SAT Math
25th: 48056275th: 560
ACT Composite
25th: 182375th: 25

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
+$523k
+$56k
+$39k
Median Cost$8k/yr
+$494k
+$27k
+$9k
Full Cost$20k/yr
+$452k
-$15k
-$32k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
40
∞
Median Cost$8k/yr
55
31%
Full Cost$20k/yr
Never
-46%
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 Return21%

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-38%
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: $52,615
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,294
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,471
Natl Median: $63,050
Lifetime Value Added
+$123k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$92,849
Natl Median: $55,767
Lifetime Value Added
+$426k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,323
Natl Median: $49,927
Lifetime Value Added
+$242k
Median Debt
$18,625
Earnings (4yr)
$40,516
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$19,465
Earnings (4yr)
$69,610
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$97k
Median Debt
$27,250
Earnings (4yr)
$61,173
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,052
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$304k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,852
Earnings (4yr)
$56,999
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$67,319
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
Median Debt
$27,750
Earnings (4yr)
$67,174
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$49,683
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,038
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
Median Debt
$22,431
Earnings (4yr)
$53,082
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,632
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,925
Earnings (4yr)
$82,982
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$199k
Median Debt
$17,875
Earnings (4yr)
$81,833
Natl Median: $95,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$190k
Median Debt
$22,812
Earnings (4yr)
$55,835
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,703
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Median Debt
$18,057
Earnings (4yr)
$35,624
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,599
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,092
Earnings (4yr)
$44,385
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,864
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Median Debt
$21,237
Earnings (4yr)
$68,409
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Median Debt
$24,883
Earnings (4yr)
$42,684
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$185k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$73,478
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
+$127k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$24,484
Earnings (4yr)
$48,109
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$65,960
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$88,492
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$241k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,009
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,730
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$25,417
Earnings (4yr)
$44,834
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Median Debt
$22,100
Earnings (4yr)
$50,322
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Median Debt
$22,125
Earnings (4yr)
$85,697
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$220k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$67,018
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,890
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,779
Natl Median: $52,119
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$26,803
Earnings (4yr)
$47,343
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,949
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,451
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
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,668
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$47,280
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Median Debt
$24,225
Earnings (4yr)
$49,989
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Median Debt
$23,050
Earnings (4yr)
$77,404
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$157k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,561
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$24,412
Earnings (4yr)
$44,914
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,232
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$42,964
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,377
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,457
Earnings (4yr)
$42,709
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,738
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$88,157
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
Median Debt
$29,830
Earnings (4yr)
$94,965
Natl Median: $125,988
Lifetime Value Added
+$181k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$78,318
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,992
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$335k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,983
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,208
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$332k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$85,127
Natl Median: $78,149
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$40,485
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$299k
Median Debt
$40,705
Earnings (4yr)
$137,370
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
+$550k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$110,142
Natl Median: $112,705
Lifetime Value Added
+$314k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$82,440
Natl Median: $103,032
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$105,350
Natl Median: $101,441
Lifetime Value Added
+$272k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,175
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Non-Professional Legal Studies
MastCIP: 2200
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,153
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,814
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Median Debt
$40,975
Earnings (4yr)
$111,560
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$326k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$32,038
Earnings (4yr)
$55,285
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,585
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$308k
Median Debt
$24,400
Earnings (4yr)
$49,961
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$222k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,509
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$94,408
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
Median Debt
$63,614
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$101,097
Earnings (4yr)
$74,937
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,426
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,395
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,949
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,580
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$122,300
Natl Median: $99,128
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,917
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,347
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 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.