College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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South University-Richmond

Glen Allen, VA 244 Undergrads 32.1% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$33,875
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$26,205
After Aid
Median Earnings
$34,421
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$26,205
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$34,421
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate32.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients49.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time61.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS56.8%

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
+$309k
-$88k
-$176k
Median Cost$26k/yr
+$214k
-$182k
-$270k
Full Cost$34k/yr
+$187k
-$210k
-$298k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$26k/yr
Never
-286%
Full Cost$34k/yr
Never
-244%
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-328%

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-132%
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

Associate's Degrees

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$47,529
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k

Bachelor's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$46,000
Earnings (5yr)
$54,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$42,354
Earnings (5yr)
$47,301
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$39,675
Earnings (5yr)
$45,275
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
BachCIP: 5100
Median Debt
$47,778
Earnings (5yr)
$47,545
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$45,268
Earnings (5yr)
$67,229
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$44,548
Earnings (5yr)
$38,844
Lifetime Value Added
-$227k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$23,592
Earnings (5yr)
$90,784
Lifetime Value Added
+$180k

Master's Degrees

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
MastCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$139,314
Earnings (5yr)
$121,963
Lifetime Value Added
+$579k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$46,193
Earnings (5yr)
$60,102
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$42,437
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
Information Science/Studies
MastCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$43,847
Earnings (5yr)
$88,529
Lifetime Value Added
+$293k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$62,262
Earnings (5yr)
$47,527
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$59,405
Earnings (5yr)
$118,330
Lifetime Value Added
+$548k

Graduate Certificates

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Gr-CertCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$46,988
Earnings (5yr)
$119,946
Lifetime Value Added
+$680k

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.