College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Plymouth State University

Plymouth, NH 3,153 Undergrads 52.9% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$30,474
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$19,530
After Aid
Median Earnings
$57,668
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$19,530
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$57,668
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$61,199
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate52.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age20.0
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients30.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
87.5%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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
+$510k
+$40k
+$24k
Median Cost$20k/yr
+$440k
-$30k
-$47k
Full Cost$30k/yr
+$400k
-$70k
-$86k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
45
∞
Median Cost$20k/yr
Never
-66%
Full Cost$30k/yr
Never
-78%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
  • 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-47%

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-67%

Program ROI Analysis

These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →

Certificates

Education, Other
CertCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$36,690
Natl Median: $41,151
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$88,694
Natl Median: $52,001
Lifetime Value Added
+$463k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$25,738
Earnings (4yr)
$57,887
Natl Median: $58,705
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,962
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,689
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,824
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,997
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,159
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$74,912
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$24,767
Earnings (4yr)
$67,069
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,874
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,740
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,358
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$96,494
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$264k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,937
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$35,646
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$224k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,019
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$69,367
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$26,683
Earnings (4yr)
$48,229
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,779
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$318k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$76,631
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,773
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,781
Earnings (4yr)
$55,156
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology, Other
BachCIP: 3199
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$24,594
Earnings (4yr)
$50,968
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,870
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$85,709
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$181k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,812
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,587
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,452
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$44,048
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,154
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Try this program with your own numbers →

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,895
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,482
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$78,761
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,403
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$73,949
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$127,512
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$423k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,149
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,496
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$62,340
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Outdoor Education
MastCIP: 3106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,021
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,964
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,115
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$205k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,720
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$199k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,135
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$204k
Try this program with your own numbers →

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,363
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$94,681
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
+$237k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Marketing
Gr-CertCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,837
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$130,741
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$251k
Try this program with your own numbers →

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.