College ROI

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Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, MN 5,088 Undergrads 51.8% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$24,841
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,062
After Aid
Median Earnings
$62,701
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$16,062
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$62,701
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$59,509
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate51.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)21.9
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients37.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time78.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
94.8%
SAT Avg
1,092
SAT Reading
25th: 51057075th: 615
SAT Math
25th: 51556075th: 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
+$550k
+$80k
+$64k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$493k
+$23k
+$6k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$461k
-$9k
-$25k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
36
∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
59
11%
Full Cost$25k/yr
Never
-28%
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 Return45%

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-40%

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

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
$17,375
Earnings (4yr)
$75,043
Natl Median: $49,757
Lifetime Value Added
+$333k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,689
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
$12,042
Earnings (4yr)
$56,168
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
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Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$16,737
Earnings (4yr)
$76,080
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,483
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
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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
-$29k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$62,595
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
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Median Debt
$22,978
Earnings (4yr)
$64,191
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
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Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,087
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$73,850
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
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Median Debt
$18,464
Earnings (4yr)
$49,922
Natl Median: $50,523
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
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Median Debt
$11,913
Earnings (4yr)
$78,067
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$135k
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Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,388
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
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Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,587
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
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Median Debt
$26,412
Earnings (4yr)
$107,133
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$357k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$103,765
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$331k
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Median Debt
$21,075
Earnings (4yr)
$80,331
Natl Median: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
+$153k
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Median Debt
$22,750
Earnings (4yr)
$66,850
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k
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Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,990
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,386
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
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Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,369
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$90,009
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$227k
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Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$81,132
Natl Median: $74,842
Lifetime Value Added
+$147k
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Median Debt
$16,661
Earnings (4yr)
$38,464
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$187k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
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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
-$214k
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Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$70,259
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$76k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,619
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,312
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$193k
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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)
$56,888
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,695
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,463
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
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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)
$90,835
Natl Median: $88,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$219k
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Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$74,847
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$87,503
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$207k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,122
Natl Median: $52,119
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
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Median Debt
$19,100
Earnings (4yr)
$56,547
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,549
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,302
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
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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
$17,906
Earnings (4yr)
$48,305
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,031
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
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Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,932
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
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Real Estate
BachCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,821
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (4yr)
$84,470
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$184k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$214k
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Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$21,493
Earnings (4yr)
$52,765
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,455
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,296
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
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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
$19,421
Earnings (4yr)
$45,386
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
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Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$48,923
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
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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
$20,663
Earnings (4yr)
$141,749
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$574k
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Median Debt
$35,258
Earnings (4yr)
$75,633
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$38,436
Earnings (4yr)
$58,788
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
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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
+$166k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,148
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
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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
$21,800
Earnings (4yr)
$79,831
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
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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: $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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $198,417
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,652
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,072
Natl Median: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,851
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
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Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$68,318
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,864
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,277
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
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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
-$194k
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Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$80,556
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
+$155k
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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
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,443
Natl Median: $69,147
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
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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
-$94k
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Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$123,714
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$212k
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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.