College ROI

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Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, TX 17,743 Undergrads 62.3% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$25,505
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,404
After Aid
Median Earnings
$57,044
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$16,404
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$57,044
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$54,211
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate62.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age22.1
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients40.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time83.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS73.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
90.3%
SAT Avg
1,041
SAT Reading
25th: 48052575th: 570
SAT Math
25th: 45051075th: 550
ACT Composite
25th: 172175th: 24

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
+$512k
+$45k
+$27k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$453k
-$14k
-$32k
Full Cost$26k/yr
+$420k
-$47k
-$64k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
43
∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
Never
-54%
Full Cost$26k/yr
Never
-70%
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 Return-28%

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-58%
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

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$19,882
Earnings (4yr)
$72,059
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (4yr)
$62,302
Natl Median: $66,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$67,729
Natl Median: $71,278
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,152
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,125
Earnings (4yr)
$60,598
Natl Median: $53,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,816
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (4yr)
$49,636
Natl Median: $49,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,758
Earnings (4yr)
$53,165
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Median Debt
$16,278
Earnings (4yr)
$61,464
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Median Debt
$22,452
Earnings (4yr)
$63,837
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$67,464
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$23,874
Earnings (4yr)
$57,410
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Median Debt
$23,287
Earnings (4yr)
$50,125
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$96,727
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$275k
Median Debt
$16,730
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,742
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
BachCIP: 1510
Median Debt
$19,855
Earnings (4yr)
$93,904
Natl Median: $93,843
Lifetime Value Added
+$253k
Median Debt
$20,708
Earnings (4yr)
$51,748
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$48,568
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Median Debt
$29,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,019
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,753
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,114
Earnings (4yr)
$36,389
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$206k
Median Debt
$22,125
Earnings (4yr)
$48,761
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,901
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (4yr)
$49,840
Natl Median: $48,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (4yr)
$72,388
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (4yr)
$39,565
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,512
Natl Median: $54,945
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$56,151
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,954
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$42,579
Natl Median: $43,283
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,155
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (4yr)
$49,134
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$50,084
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Median Debt
$17,766
Earnings (4yr)
$57,689
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$79,544
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$143k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $60,369
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
Median Debt
$21,379
Earnings (4yr)
$61,186
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Median Debt
$23,125
Earnings (4yr)
$54,082
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Median Debt
$20,265
Earnings (4yr)
$73,734
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$18,625
Earnings (4yr)
$55,522
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$24,430
Earnings (4yr)
$61,617
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,225
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$25,630
Earnings (4yr)
$58,743
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
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
Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,567
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,432
Earnings (4yr)
$55,894
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$47,659
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$23,880
Earnings (4yr)
$50,970
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Median Debt
$24,316
Earnings (4yr)
$91,697
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$236k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$31,854
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
-$245k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,647
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$26,016
Earnings (4yr)
$42,152
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,823
Natl Median: $59,631
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$22,651
Earnings (4yr)
$57,341
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,900
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$17,859
Earnings (4yr)
$88,132
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,454
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $61,941
Lifetime Value Added
-$291k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$38,487
Earnings (4yr)
$99,143
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$203k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,746
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$136,772
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
+$530k
Median Debt
$38,362
Earnings (4yr)
$62,489
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Median Debt
$28,601
Earnings (4yr)
$62,520
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Dance
MastCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,404
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,087
Natl Median: $62,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$257k
Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,180
Natl Median: $65,348
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Median Debt
$36,942
Earnings (4yr)
$65,804
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,232
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,984
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$178k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,149
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,943
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
Homeland Security
MastCIP: 4303
Median Debt
$26,168
Earnings (4yr)
$82,876
Natl Median: $96,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,445
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$35,345
Earnings (4yr)
$64,781
Natl Median: $56,301
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,888
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$63,005
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Natl Median: $82,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$245k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
-$303k
Median Debt
$39,049
Earnings (4yr)
$70,757
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$30,583
Earnings (4yr)
$59,708
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,489
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Median Debt
$40,666
Earnings (4yr)
$65,953
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,024
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
-$218k

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,427
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, Other
DocCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,635
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$89,213
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$70,456
Natl Median: $83,794
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k

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.