College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, MN 5,088 Undergrads 51.0% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$21,116
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,529
After Aid
Median Earnings
$59,194
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$13,529
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$59,194
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$55,813
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate51.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age21.9
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients33.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time78.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
94.8%
SAT Avg
1,092
SAT Reading
25th: 510-75th: 615
SAT Math
25th: 515-75th: 645
ACT Composite
25th: 172175th: 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)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$529k
+$62k
+$45k
Median Cost$14k/yr
+$481k
+$14k
-$4k
Full Cost$21k/yr
+$453k
-$14k
-$31k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
39
∞
Median Cost$14k/yr
Never
-8%
Full Cost$21k/yr
Never
-41%
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 Return27%

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-39%
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

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,761
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,869
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,682
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,309
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
CertCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$75,043
Natl Median: $49,757
Lifetime Value Added
+$332k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,689
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,168
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$23,051
Earnings (4yr)
$76,080
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$127k
Air Transportation
BachCIP: 4901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,825
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,496
Earnings (4yr)
$59,483
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,108
Natl Median: $60,997
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,546
Earnings (4yr)
$62,595
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Biotechnology
BachCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,097
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,831
Earnings (4yr)
$64,191
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,219
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,471
Earnings (4yr)
$49,922
Natl Median: $50,523
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Median Debt
$19,347
Earnings (4yr)
$78,067
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$56,388
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Median Debt
$15,300
Earnings (4yr)
$58,587
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Median Debt
$24,215
Earnings (4yr)
$107,133
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$364k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$25,463
Earnings (4yr)
$103,765
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$339k
Median Debt
$24,516
Earnings (4yr)
$80,331
Natl Median: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
Median Debt
$18,250
Earnings (4yr)
$66,850
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,990
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,312
Earnings (4yr)
$44,386
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,524
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Median Debt
$20,800
Earnings (4yr)
$90,009
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$234k
Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,842
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$16,325
Earnings (4yr)
$38,464
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$178k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$35,421
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$204k
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$70,259
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Median Debt
$27,576
Earnings (4yr)
$47,619
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,359
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$39,176
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$178k
Median Debt
$14,574
Earnings (4yr)
$73,695
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$109k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,674
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
-$180k
Median Debt
$18,250
Earnings (4yr)
$48,463
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$84,522
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$179k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$65,387
Natl Median: $88,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$74,847
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$118k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,122
Earnings (4yr)
$87,503
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$214k
Median Debt
$26,421
Earnings (5yr)
$60,360
Natl Median: $52,119
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Median Debt
$22,550
Earnings (4yr)
$56,547
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,850
Earnings (4yr)
$59,549
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$987
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,302
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
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
$20,375
Earnings (4yr)
$48,305
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$16,250
Earnings (4yr)
$52,031
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,932
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Real Estate
BachCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,821
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,525
Earnings (4yr)
$84,470
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$191k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$205k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$24,300
Earnings (4yr)
$52,765
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,455
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Median Debt
$21,650
Earnings (4yr)
$48,296
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$45,386
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Median Debt
$25,591
Earnings (4yr)
$48,923
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$141,749
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$578k
Median Debt
$35,507
Earnings (4yr)
$75,633
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,788
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$94,729
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
+$169k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$85,657
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,891
Earnings (4yr)
$79,831
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Gerontology
MastCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,496
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,524
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Materials Sciences
MastCIP: 4010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,810
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $198,417
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$37,572
Earnings (4yr)
$56,652
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,349
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$63,851
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$23,636
Earnings (4yr)
$68,318
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,864
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,538
Earnings (4yr)
$54,277
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k
Systems Engineering
MastCIP: 1427
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $144,565
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,550
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$106,232
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
+$349k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,166
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,959
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,117
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$36,193
Earnings (4yr)
$59,443
Natl Median: $69,147
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,774
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,709
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$55,964
Natl Median: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$123,714
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$221k

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,231
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.