College ROI

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Pennsylvania State University-Penn State DuBois

DuBois, PA 349 Undergrads 36.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$28,530
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$17,428
After Aid
Median Earnings
$76,659
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$17,428
Peer Midpoint: $9,847
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$76,659
Peer Midpoint: $50,127.5
Graduation Rate36.4%
Peer Midpoint: 34.6%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients30.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time96.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS80.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
97.1%
SAT Avg
1,080
SAT Reading
25th: 490-75th: 630
SAT Math
25th: 500-75th: 580
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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
+$780k
+$265k
+$296k
Median Cost$17k/yr
+$748k
+$233k
+$264k
Full Cost$29k/yr
+$728k
+$212k
+$243k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
22
Median Cost$17k/yr
24
825%
Full Cost$29k/yr
25
465%
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 Return1010%

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 Return209%
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

Engineering, Other
CertCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,441
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$46,356
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Business/Commerce, General
AssocCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$17,701
Earnings (4yr)
$61,596
Natl Median: $49,927
Lifetime Value Added
+$127k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$40,545
Natl Median: $34,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Information Science/Studies
AssocCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$69,394
Natl Median: $56,799
Lifetime Value Added
+$199k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,654
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1508
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,997
Natl Median: $64,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management
AssocCIP: 0306
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,069
Natl Median: $37,155
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k

Bachelor's Degrees

Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$25,593
Earnings (4yr)
$65,292
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,877
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Engineering, General
BachCIP: 1401
Median Debt
$25,949
Earnings (4yr)
$88,063
Natl Median: $89,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$205k
Forestry
BachCIP: 0305
Median Debt
$20,089
Earnings (2yr)
$36,674
Natl Median: $58,784
Lifetime Value Added
-$194k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,943
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$25,950
Earnings (4yr)
$91,671
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$232k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,195
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,543
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k

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.