College ROI

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Pennsylvania Western University

California, PA 7,451 Undergrads 53.5% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$26,916
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$18,256
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,553
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$18,256
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$54,553
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$47,295
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate53.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age23.7
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 Recipients38.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time86.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS66.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
94.3%
SAT Avg
1,063
SAT Reading
25th: 480-75th: 580
SAT Math
25th: 460-75th: 560
ACT Composite
25th: 17-75th: 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)
⚠️ 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
+$491k
+$25k
+$7k
Median Cost$18k/yr
+$426k
-$41k
-$59k
Full Cost$27k/yr
+$395k
-$72k
-$90k

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
55
∞
Median Cost$18k/yr
Never
-89%
Full Cost$27k/yr
Never
-93%
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-69%

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-70%
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: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,299
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,365
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,495
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,696
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
CertCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,722
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,740
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
+$136k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,822
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,801
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,587
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,246
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,195
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,987
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $38,127
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,792
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1504
Median Debt
$16,697
Earnings (4yr)
$64,684
Natl Median: $73,046
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
AssocCIP: 1500
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$156,707
Natl Median: $62,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$974k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,111
Natl Median: $73,593
Lifetime Value Added
+$222k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,457
Earnings (4yr)
$47,952
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,734
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,025
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,146
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
AssocCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,409
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,614
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$33,108
Natl Median: $37,656
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,781
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,617
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$39,232
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$195k
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
BachCIP: 5010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$37,006
Natl Median: $48,240
Lifetime Value Added
-$214k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,272
Natl Median: $58,891
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,619
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,515
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,920
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,224
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,092
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,116
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,316
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Median Debt
$23,654
Earnings (4yr)
$73,164
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$55,964
Natl Median: $83,742
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Median Debt
$23,375
Earnings (4yr)
$49,817
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$40,854
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$35,547
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$226k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$76,861
Natl Median: $84,599
Lifetime Value Added
+$105k
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
BachCIP: 1500
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,526
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,816
Earnings (4yr)
$37,813
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$200k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,289
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,684
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$201k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,517
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,549
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Gerontology
BachCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,421
Natl Median: $54,051
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$83,194
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
+$165k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,579
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$202k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,354
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$77,401
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$70,608
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,264
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,604
Natl Median: $62,654
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,266
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$44,180
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,703
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,498
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,649
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,837
Natl Median: $52,119
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,612
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,546
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,722
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,615
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$307k
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,724
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$25,879
Earnings (4yr)
$45,903
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Real Estate
BachCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,821
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$16,625
Earnings (4yr)
$82,099
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$156k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,300
Natl Median: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$42,582
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$42,821
Natl Median: $56,812
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$45,436
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,662
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,497
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$26,918
Earnings (4yr)
$47,468
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$70,820
Natl Median: $88,036
Lifetime Value Added
+$70k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,295
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,439
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,807
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,656
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
-$244k
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (4yr)
$78,426
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,248
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,323
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,424
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$161k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$95,801
Natl Median: $120,083
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$30,934
Earnings (4yr)
$55,650
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$187k
Median Debt
$27,265
Earnings (4yr)
$66,008
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,605
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,656
Natl Median: $101,855
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,619
Natl Median: $56,301
Lifetime Value Added
-$187k
Median Debt
$44,280
Earnings (4yr)
$48,558
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$254k
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$37,684
Earnings (4yr)
$113,607
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$326k
Median Debt
$26,214
Earnings (4yr)
$65,444
Natl Median: $65,443
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$40,697
Earnings (4yr)
$58,490
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Median Debt
$29,578
Earnings (4yr)
$53,122
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$211k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$30,500
Earnings (4yr)
$59,065
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,323
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$199k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,052
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,265
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,509
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,517
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminology
Gr-CertCIP: 4504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,346
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Dispute Resolution
Gr-CertCIP: 3028
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,947
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$88,001
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
+$191k
Homeland Security
Gr-CertCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,606
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $122,843
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,813
Natl Median: $60,655
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Public Policy Analysis
Gr-CertCIP: 4405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,781
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,852
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,147
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
Gr-CertCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
Gr-CertCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,297
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
$44,383
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,427
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,669
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$127,594
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$233k

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,717
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.