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Salem State University
Salem, MA 4,286 Undergrads 62.5% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$27,615
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$18,441
After Aid
Median Earnings
$56,662
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$18,441
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$56,662
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate62.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients39.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time86.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS78.4%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
95.6%
SAT Avg
1,090
SAT Reading
25th: 510-75th: 590
SAT Math
25th: 480-75th: 570
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
+$491k
+$94k
+$6k
Median Cost$18k/yr
+$424k
+$28k
-$60k
Full Cost$28k/yr
+$391k
-$5k
-$93k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
56
∞
Median Cost$18k/yr
Never
-91%
Full Cost$28k/yr
Never
-94%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year 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 Return-71%
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-71%
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
Bachelor's Degrees
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (5yr)
$73,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$65,310
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$25,750
Earnings (2yr)
$45,696
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$24,847
Earnings (5yr)
$53,766
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$26,250
Earnings (2yr)
$67,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (5yr)
$59,192
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (5yr)
$46,529
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$26,250
Earnings (5yr)
$44,760
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$44,271
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$50,774
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,598
Lifetime Value Added
-$271k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$53,920
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$25,450
Earnings (5yr)
$54,844
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,648
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$184k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,520
Lifetime Value Added
-$263k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,749
Earnings (5yr)
$52,718
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$89,918
Lifetime Value Added
+$202k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$24,991
Earnings (5yr)
$53,211
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (5yr)
$55,337
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Visual and Performing Arts, General
BachCIP: 5001
Median Debt
$25,874
Earnings (5yr)
$35,940
Lifetime Value Added
-$223k
Master's Degrees
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$78,971
Lifetime Value Added
+$266k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$32,512
Earnings (5yr)
$65,094
Lifetime Value Added
+$105k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$20,658
Earnings (5yr)
$61,144
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,356
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,278
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$26,375
Earnings (5yr)
$94,497
Lifetime Value Added
+$358k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$53,255
Earnings (2yr)
$63,005
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$40,594
Earnings (5yr)
$65,680
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$19,649
Earnings (5yr)
$71,472
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$40,844
Earnings (5yr)
$66,161
Lifetime Value Added
+$114k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$15,041
Earnings (5yr)
$62,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (5yr)
$74,213
Lifetime Value Added
+$184k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, 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 should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.