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Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Natchitoches, LA 5,519 Undergrads 45.6% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$25,431
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,606
After Aid
Median Earnings
$56,762
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$13,606
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$56,762
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate45.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients46.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time75.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS64.2%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
92.5%
SAT Avg
1,088
SAT Reading
25th: 44853075th: 610
SAT Math
25th: 41849075th: 553
ACT Composite
25th: 181975th: 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
+$509k
+$43k
+$25k
Median Cost$14k/yr
+$461k
-$6k
-$24k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$418k
-$49k
-$66k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
44
∞
Median Cost$14k/yr
Never
-49%
Full Cost$25k/yr
Never
-73%
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-32%
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-59%
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
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
AssocCIP: 1500
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,343
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$19,360
Earnings (4yr)
$43,417
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$76,710
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$271k
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 0183
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,460
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$26,762
Earnings (4yr)
$60,861
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$9k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$66,559
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$54k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$24,566
Earnings (4yr)
$55,452
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$51,927
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (4yr)
$37,273
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$44,267
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$21,359
Earnings (4yr)
$36,229
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,599
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1901
Median Debt
$27,250
Earnings (4yr)
$42,434
Natl Median: $48,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,409
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$237k
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
BachCIP: 5100
Median Debt
$19,282
Earnings (4yr)
$67,765
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,115
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$44,227
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$26,797
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1506
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (4yr)
$74,209
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$113k
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$26,125
Earnings (4yr)
$63,928
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$26,528
Earnings (4yr)
$47,652
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$42,065
Natl Median: $52,119
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
BachCIP: 2605
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,582
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$22,885
Earnings (4yr)
$39,223
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$24,245
Earnings (4yr)
$44,492
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$22,175
Earnings (4yr)
$86,608
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$207k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,296
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$22,375
Earnings (4yr)
$51,722
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$19,731
Earnings (4yr)
$53,800
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$27,462
Earnings (4yr)
$51,672
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Master's Degrees
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
MastCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,348
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$34,934
Earnings (4yr)
$62,268
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$45,277
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$260k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Homeland Security
MastCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$81,715
Natl Median: $96,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$111,536
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$316k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,603
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,469
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$199k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$42,395
Earnings (4yr)
$50,650
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$226k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$35,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,689
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$206k
Other Programs
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
DegCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,292
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
DegCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,802
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.