College ROI

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Pennsylvania State University-World Campus

University Park, PA 7,877 Undergrads 38.8% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$27,678
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$19,550
After Aid
Median Earnings
$76,659
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$19,550
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$76,659
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$63,435
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate38.8%
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 Age21.8
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients32.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time44.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS80.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
91.1%
SAT Avg
1,248
SAT Reading
25th: 560-75th: 680
SAT Math
25th: 530-75th: 655
ACT Composite
25th: 26-75th: 32

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
+$665k
+$198k
+$180k
Median Cost$20k/yr
+$594k
+$128k
+$110k
Full Cost$28k/yr
+$565k
+$98k
+$81k

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
29
∞
Median Cost$20k/yr
36
156%
Full Cost$28k/yr
40
81%
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 Return248%

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 Return19%
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
$26,499
Earnings (4yr)
$87,526
Natl Median: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
+$448k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,292
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$368k
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$82,162
Natl Median: $79,067
Lifetime Value Added
+$396k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,097
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,445
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$102,874
Natl Median: $52,615
Lifetime Value Added
+$597k
Median Debt
$25,965
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,418
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $31,135
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,907
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
CertCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$63,138
Natl Median: $55,137
Lifetime Value Added
+$210k
Median Debt
$12,652
Earnings (4yr)
$93,527
Natl Median: $44,906
Lifetime Value Added
+$506k
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$81,794
Natl Median: $65,682
Lifetime Value Added
+$392k
Non-Professional Legal Studies
CertCIP: 2200
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,149
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
CertCIP: 0111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,404
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,273
Earnings (4yr)
$63,384
Natl Median: $56,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$213k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,763
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$108,264
Natl Median: $80,020
Lifetime Value Added
+$649k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,296
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,464
Natl Median: $45,283
Lifetime Value Added
+$113k
Median Debt
$17,701
Earnings (4yr)
$61,596
Natl Median: $49,927
Lifetime Value Added
+$123k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$40,545
Natl Median: $34,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$69,394
Natl Median: $56,799
Lifetime Value Added
+$195k
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,654
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$25,218
Earnings (4yr)
$88,192
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$198k
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$73,471
Natl Median: $66,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
Median Debt
$25,784
Earnings (4yr)
$69,540
Natl Median: $58,494
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Median Debt
$25,601
Earnings (4yr)
$81,617
Natl Median: $65,681
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
Median Debt
$25,887
Earnings (4yr)
$69,102
Natl Median: $58,891
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$25,717
Earnings (4yr)
$64,910
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Median Debt
$24,973
Earnings (4yr)
$72,218
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$76k
Median Debt
$25,593
Earnings (4yr)
$65,292
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,505
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Median Debt
$25,431
Earnings (4yr)
$66,866
Natl Median: $55,384
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
Median Debt
$26,471
Earnings (4yr)
$112,269
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$382k
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$98,637
Natl Median: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
+$278k
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,877
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$81,228
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$145k
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,700
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,299
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
BachCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,185
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$96,714
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$263k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$40,036
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$186k
Median Debt
$25,648
Earnings (4yr)
$81,092
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
+$144k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$75,396
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,871
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,943
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$81,755
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$149k
Median Debt
$25,950
Earnings (4yr)
$91,671
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$225k
Median Debt
$24,375
Earnings (4yr)
$71,001
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$24,367
Earnings (4yr)
$62,336
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$388
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,195
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$24,947
Earnings (4yr)
$79,343
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
Median Debt
$26,723
Earnings (4yr)
$87,997
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$197k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Non-Professional Legal Studies
BachCIP: 2200
Median Debt
$31,750
Earnings (4yr)
$60,745
Natl Median: $61,959
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,741
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$65,675
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$68,918
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,543
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$76,246
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$66,876
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$91,032
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$220k
Median Debt
$25,375
Earnings (4yr)
$48,348
Natl Median: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,452
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,438
Earnings (4yr)
$59,883
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Median Debt
$23,125
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,887
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,225
Earnings (4yr)
$45,170
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$110,498
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$296k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$127,665
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$445k
Median Debt
$48,937
Earnings (4yr)
$84,981
Natl Median: $67,597
Lifetime Value Added
+$73k
Median Debt
$27,600
Earnings (4yr)
$137,367
Natl Median: $138,757
Lifetime Value Added
+$529k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$166,387
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$780k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$140,393
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
+$555k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,151
Earnings (4yr)
$62,403
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Demography
MastCIP: 4505
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,145
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,073
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$29,612
Earnings (4yr)
$63,797
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, Other
MastCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$107,278
Natl Median: $129,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$268k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$102,798
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
+$229k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$44,873
Earnings (4yr)
$111,065
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$301k
Homeland Security
MastCIP: 4303
Median Debt
$32,931
Earnings (4yr)
$106,535
Natl Median: $96,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$261k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$103,541
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
+$235k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $119,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$33,905
Earnings (4yr)
$158,815
Natl Median: $112,705
Lifetime Value Added
+$714k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$139,676
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$549k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $122,873
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$110,540
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$278k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,509
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Nuclear Engineering
MastCIP: 1423
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$129,767
Natl Median: $117,400
Lifetime Value Added
+$441k
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$150,865
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
+$646k
Psychology, Other
MastCIP: 4299
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$99,841
Natl Median: $61,796
Lifetime Value Added
+$203k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$87,710
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$97k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$36,778
Earnings (4yr)
$90,383
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$117,728
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$359k
Median Debt
$31,107
Earnings (4yr)
$63,109
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$129,392
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
+$460k
Systems Engineering
MastCIP: 1427
Median Debt
$32,822
Earnings (4yr)
$145,507
Natl Median: $144,565
Lifetime Value Added
+$599k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,663
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,146
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.