College ROI

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Purdue University Global

West Lafayette, IN 30,828 Undergrads 27.9% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$15,660
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$7,770
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,301
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$7,770
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$54,301
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Warning: This school's reported earnings inflated significantly (+48%) when the Dept of Education excluded non-graduates from the dataset. Take caution when comparing.
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$36,596
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate27.9%
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 Age32.1
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 Recipients48.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time18.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS54.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
100.0%
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)
⚠️ 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
+$489k
+$22k
+$5k
Median Cost$8k/yr
+$461k
-$6k
-$23k
Full Cost$16k/yr
+$433k
-$34k
-$51k

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
57
∞
Median Cost$8k/yr
Never
-82%
Full Cost$16k/yr
Never
-91%
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-53%

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-49%
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
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$38,055
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,445
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$109,202
Natl Median: $50,984
Lifetime Value Added
+$649k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,918
Natl Median: $57,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$36,147
Natl Median: $33,673
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Median Debt
$12,920
Earnings (4yr)
$37,546
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
Median Debt
$12,635
Earnings (4yr)
$30,664
Natl Median: $36,390
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Median Debt
$8,170
Earnings (4yr)
$39,788
Natl Median: $49,747
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
$28,681
Earnings (4yr)
$49,016
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$25,752
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$212k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,687
Earnings (4yr)
$46,828
Natl Median: $49,927
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,953
Natl Median: $54,246
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Median Debt
$26,755
Earnings (4yr)
$58,006
Natl Median: $54,726
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,840
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$119k
Criminology
AssocCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$44,516
Natl Median: $44,936
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Fire Protection
AssocCIP: 4302
Median Debt
$20,252
Earnings (4yr)
$81,259
Natl Median: $73,589
Lifetime Value Added
+$323k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,507
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,324
Natl Median: $48,027
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Median Debt
$4,156
Earnings (4yr)
$52,571
Natl Median: $51,180
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$35,110
Natl Median: $39,422
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Median Debt
$21,798
Earnings (4yr)
$41,127
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$68,664
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$210k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$26,368
Natl Median: $36,172
Lifetime Value Added
-$211k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$39,311
Earnings (4yr)
$62,502
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Median Debt
$35,740
Earnings (4yr)
$66,495
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Median Debt
$33,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,339
Natl Median: $50,523
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,906
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$147k
Median Debt
$45,101
Earnings (4yr)
$76,857
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
Median Debt
$42,497
Earnings (4yr)
$87,413
Natl Median: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
+$235k
Median Debt
$30,641
Earnings (4yr)
$56,660
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Median Debt
$27,125
Earnings (4yr)
$47,367
Natl Median: $55,753
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Median Debt
$31,848
Earnings (4yr)
$42,581
Natl Median: $47,433
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Median Debt
$47,115
Earnings (4yr)
$52,507
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Fire Protection
BachCIP: 4302
Median Debt
$29,363
Earnings (4yr)
$97,967
Natl Median: $86,436
Lifetime Value Added
+$315k
Median Debt
$30,556
Earnings (4yr)
$57,546
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Median Debt
$25,921
Earnings (4yr)
$54,526
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Median Debt
$32,740
Earnings (4yr)
$78,683
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$168k
Median Debt
$52,937
Earnings (4yr)
$46,580
Natl Median: $48,597
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Median Debt
$34,931
Earnings (4yr)
$54,760
Natl Median: $53,266
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$66,863
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Median Debt
$34,836
Earnings (4yr)
$42,305
Natl Median: $52,119
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Median Debt
$19,503
Earnings (4yr)
$66,445
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
Median Debt
$32,463
Earnings (5yr)
$44,408
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Non-Professional Legal Studies
BachCIP: 2200
Median Debt
$51,706
Earnings (4yr)
$43,441
Natl Median: $61,959
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$57,500
Earnings (4yr)
$43,607
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Median Debt
$30,582
Earnings (4yr)
$51,391
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Median Debt
$26,350
Earnings (4yr)
$95,877
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$299k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$38,020
Earnings (4yr)
$42,798
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Median Debt
$57,500
Earnings (4yr)
$38,197
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Legal Support Services
PB-CertCIP: 2203
Median Debt
$14,115
Earnings (4yr)
$46,846
Natl Median: $55,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$44,850
Earnings (4yr)
$73,597
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Behavioral Sciences
MastCIP: 3017
Median Debt
$47,692
Earnings (4yr)
$63,128
Natl Median: $65,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Median Debt
$51,878
Earnings (4yr)
$71,228
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Median Debt
$44,469
Earnings (4yr)
$52,536
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Median Debt
$50,837
Earnings (4yr)
$84,248
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Median Debt
$50,532
Earnings (4yr)
$80,691
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
Median Debt
$41,083
Earnings (4yr)
$59,014
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Median Debt
$37,774
Earnings (4yr)
$54,022
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
Median Debt
$26,963
Earnings (4yr)
$79,398
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
Median Debt
$48,204
Earnings (4yr)
$68,905
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Fire Protection
MastCIP: 4302
Median Debt
$36,322
Earnings (4yr)
$74,656
Natl Median: $86,743
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Median Debt
$44,815
Earnings (4yr)
$70,227
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities
MastCIP: 5132
Median Debt
$56,266
Earnings (4yr)
$100,467
Natl Median: $100,487
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
Median Debt
$44,397
Earnings (4yr)
$52,013
Natl Median: $57,050
Lifetime Value Added
-$202k
Median Debt
$55,014
Earnings (4yr)
$70,692
Natl Median: $77,310
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$70,234
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Non-Professional Legal Studies
MastCIP: 2200
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,359
Natl Median: $65,153
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$68,412
Earnings (4yr)
$54,049
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$182k
Median Debt
$49,396
Earnings (4yr)
$64,832
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$49,049
Earnings (4yr)
$62,315
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Median Debt
$58,675
Earnings (4yr)
$121,198
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$411k
Median Debt
$39,582
Earnings (4yr)
$51,736
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$204k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,363
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$86,413
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
+$186k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$93,087
Natl Median: $65,509
Lifetime Value Added
+$232k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,196
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities
Gr-CertCIP: 5132
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,957
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,655
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$38,154
Earnings (4yr)
$126,507
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
+$565k

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
$89,231
Earnings (4yr)
$131,220
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$297k

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$81,926
Earnings (4yr)
$84,403
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (4yr)
$96,688
Natl Median: $86,371
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k

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.