College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Purdue University Global

West Lafayette, IN 30,828 Undergrads 27.9% Grad Rate
Share
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: $17,333.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$54,301
Peer Midpoint: $34,461
Graduation Rate27.9%
Peer Midpoint: 68.7%
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

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
+$622k
+$230k
+$138k
Median Cost$8k/yr
+$615k
+$223k
+$130k
Full Cost$16k/yr
+$607k
+$216k
+$123k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
21
Median Cost$8k/yr
22
1809%
Full Cost$16k/yr
23
847%
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 Return1741%

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 Return349%
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

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
CertCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$38,055
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
CertCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,445
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer and Information Sciences, General
CertCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$109,202
Natl Median: $50,984
Lifetime Value Added
+$649k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
CertCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,918
Natl Median: $57,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$36,147
Natl Median: $33,673
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
CertCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$12,920
Earnings (4yr)
$37,546
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
Human Services, General
CertCIP: 4400
Median Debt
$12,635
Earnings (4yr)
$30,664
Natl Median: $36,390
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Legal Support Services
CertCIP: 2203
Median Debt
$8,170
Earnings (4yr)
$39,788
Natl Median: $49,747
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k

Associate's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
AssocCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$28,681
Earnings (4yr)
$49,016
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$25,752
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$212k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business/Commerce, General
AssocCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$21,687
Earnings (4yr)
$46,828
Natl Median: $49,927
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
AssocCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,953
Natl Median: $54,246
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
AssocCIP: 1110
Median Debt
$26,755
Earnings (4yr)
$58,006
Natl Median: $54,726
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
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
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,507
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
AssocCIP: 5199
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,324
Natl Median: $48,027
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
AssocCIP: 5100
Median Debt
$4,156
Earnings (4yr)
$52,571
Natl Median: $51,180
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Human Services, General
AssocCIP: 4400
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$35,110
Natl Median: $39,422
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Legal Support Services
AssocCIP: 2203
Median Debt
$21,798
Earnings (4yr)
$41,127
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$68,664
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$210k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
AssocCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$26,368
Natl Median: $36,172
Lifetime Value Added
-$211k

Bachelor's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$39,311
Earnings (4yr)
$62,502
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$35,740
Earnings (4yr)
$66,495
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
BachCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$33,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,339
Natl Median: $50,523
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,906
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$147k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$45,101
Earnings (4yr)
$76,857
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
BachCIP: 1110
Median Debt
$42,497
Earnings (4yr)
$87,413
Natl Median: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
+$235k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$30,641
Earnings (4yr)
$56,660
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
BachCIP: 5131
Median Debt
$27,125
Earnings (4yr)
$47,367
Natl Median: $55,753
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Educational Administration and Supervision
BachCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$31,848
Earnings (4yr)
$42,581
Natl Median: $47,433
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
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
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$30,556
Earnings (4yr)
$57,546
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
BachCIP: 5100
Median Debt
$25,921
Earnings (4yr)
$54,526
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$32,740
Earnings (4yr)
$78,683
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$168k
Human Services, General
BachCIP: 4400
Median Debt
$52,937
Earnings (4yr)
$46,580
Natl Median: $48,597
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Legal Support Services
BachCIP: 2203
Median Debt
$34,931
Earnings (4yr)
$54,760
Natl Median: $53,266
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$66,863
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$34,836
Earnings (4yr)
$42,305
Natl Median: $52,119
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$19,503
Earnings (4yr)
$66,445
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
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
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$30,582
Earnings (4yr)
$51,391
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
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
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
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

Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
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
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$51,878
Earnings (4yr)
$71,228
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$44,469
Earnings (4yr)
$52,536
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$50,837
Earnings (4yr)
$84,248
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
MastCIP: 1110
Median Debt
$50,532
Earnings (4yr)
$80,691
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$41,083
Earnings (4yr)
$59,014
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$37,774
Earnings (4yr)
$54,022
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
Educational/Instructional Media Design
MastCIP: 1305
Median Debt
$26,963
Earnings (4yr)
$79,398
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
Finance and Financial Management Services
MastCIP: 5208
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
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
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
Human Services, General
MastCIP: 4400
Median Debt
$44,397
Earnings (4yr)
$52,013
Natl Median: $57,050
Lifetime Value Added
-$202k
Legal Support Services
MastCIP: 2203
Median Debt
$55,014
Earnings (4yr)
$70,692
Natl Median: $77,310
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
MastCIP: 0301
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
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
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
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$58,675
Earnings (4yr)
$121,198
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$411k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$39,582
Earnings (4yr)
$51,736
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$204k

Graduate Certificates

Accounting and Related Services
Gr-CertCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,363
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Gr-CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$86,413
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
+$186k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
Gr-CertCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$93,087
Natl Median: $65,509
Lifetime Value Added
+$232k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
Gr-CertCIP: 1101
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
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
Gr-CertCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,655
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Gr-CertCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$38,154
Earnings (4yr)
$126,507
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
+$565k

Doctoral Degrees

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
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
Legal Professions and Studies, Other
ProfCIP: 2299
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 degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.