College ROI

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South University-Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach, VA 240 Undergrads 33.3% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$36,528
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$24,432
After Aid
Median Earnings
$62,376
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$24,432
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$62,376
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Warning: This school's reported earnings inflated significantly (+59%) when the Dept of Education excluded non-graduates from the dataset. Take caution when comparing.
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$39,314
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate33.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age30.0
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients56.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time72.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS61.7%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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
+$548k
+$78k
+$61k
Median Cost$24k/yr
+$460k
-$10k
-$26k
Full Cost$37k/yr
+$416k
-$54k
-$70k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
36
∞
Median Cost$24k/yr
Never
-30%
Full Cost$37k/yr
Never
-53%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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-5%

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-60%

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 →

Associate's Degrees

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108

Earnings shared by 9 South University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,681
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107

Earnings shared by 9 South University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$26,417
Earnings (4yr)
$36,905
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k

Bachelor's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202

Earnings shared by 9 South University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$29,166
Earnings (4yr)
$53,445
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301

Earnings shared by 9 South University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$45,809
Earnings (4yr)
$46,322
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107

Earnings shared by 9 South University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$28,374
Earnings (4yr)
$46,885
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
BachCIP: 5100

Earnings shared by 5 South University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,390
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104

Earnings shared by 8 South University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,915
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201

Earnings shared by 9 South University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$47,148
Earnings (4yr)
$39,694
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$207k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122

Earnings shared by 9 South University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$44,894
Earnings (4yr)
$45,993
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138

Earnings shared by 10 South University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$23,833
Earnings (4yr)
$91,363
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$207k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202

Earnings shared by 9 South University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$43,343
Earnings (4yr)
$74,209
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301

Earnings shared by 8 South University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$51,614
Earnings (4yr)
$55,950
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$196k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107

Earnings shared by 7 South University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$65,167
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Information Science/Studies
MastCIP: 1104

Earnings shared by 7 South University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$78,782
Natl Median: $112,705
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115

Earnings shared by 5 South University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$68,333
Earnings (4yr)
$55,052
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$205k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404

Earnings shared by 5 South University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,649
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$276k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122

Earnings shared by 4 South University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$57,381
Earnings (4yr)
$70,464
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138

Earnings shared by 10 South University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (4yr)
$119,307
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$365k

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.