College ROI

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Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, MO 6,373 Undergrads 52.3% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$25,177
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$15,882
After Aid
Median Earnings
$51,502
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$15,882
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$51,502
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$44,030
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate52.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age21.8
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients36.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time88.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS67.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
73.5%
SAT Avg
950
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: 15-75th: 20

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
+$466k
-$736
-$18k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$409k
-$58k
-$75k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$376k
-$91k
-$109k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
Never
-132%
Full Cost$25k/yr
Never
-120%
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-115%

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-79%
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

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,019
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,631
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,689
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,195
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$36,776
Natl Median: $34,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$18,402
Earnings (4yr)
$69,868
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$71k
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$63,078
Natl Median: $66,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,224
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,706
Natl Median: $49,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,407
Earnings (4yr)
$45,207
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Median Debt
$21,487
Earnings (4yr)
$59,834
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,813
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$51,817
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$93,795
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$254k
Median Debt
$24,290
Earnings (4yr)
$106,797
Natl Median: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
+$353k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,934
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering Physics
BachCIP: 1412
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,154
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
BachCIP: 1500
Median Debt
$20,854
Earnings (4yr)
$62,781
Natl Median: $80,526
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
Median Debt
$28,625
Earnings (4yr)
$36,356
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$204k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,634
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$41,619
Natl Median: $48,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k
Median Debt
$21,497
Earnings (4yr)
$78,407
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$36,531
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k
Median Debt
$26,750
Earnings (4yr)
$57,260
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$53,527
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Median Debt
$24,395
Earnings (4yr)
$80,820
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$155k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$41,481
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,383
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$18,985
Earnings (4yr)
$61,400
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,266
Natl Median: $50,983
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
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
$17,355
Earnings (4yr)
$56,265
Natl Median: $56,567
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (4yr)
$66,799
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,970
Earnings (4yr)
$44,580
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Median Debt
$24,908
Earnings (4yr)
$58,082
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Median Debt
$20,296
Earnings (4yr)
$85,155
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$188k
Median Debt
$23,323
Earnings (4yr)
$42,761
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$24,310
Earnings (4yr)
$43,260
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Median Debt
$23,876
Earnings (4yr)
$41,163
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$51,828
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$37,245
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$37,112
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$198k
Median Debt
$23,320
Earnings (4yr)
$33,293
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
-$231k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$102,877
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$236k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,189
Earnings (4yr)
$71,839
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Median Debt
$33,488
Earnings (4yr)
$50,835
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$228k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,384
Earnings (4yr)
$54,344
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$195k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,981
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: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Nutrition Sciences
MastCIP: 3019
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,126
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$93,342
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$186k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,985
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$324k
Median Debt
$34,697
Earnings (4yr)
$61,570
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Median Debt
$14,279
Earnings (4yr)
$47,332
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$262k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,117
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,095
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,147
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

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.