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Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Carbondale, IL 8,116 Undergrads 56.3% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$29,268
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,177
After Aid
Median Earnings
$53,390
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$16,177
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$53,390
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate56.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients36.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time84.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS70.4%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
90.4%
SAT Avg
1,060
SAT Reading
25th: 47053575th: 580
SAT Math
25th: 44051075th: 560
ACT Composite
25th: 202475th: 27
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
+$465k
+$68k
-$20k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$406k
+$10k
-$78k
Full Cost$29k/yr
+$359k
-$37k
-$125k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
Never
-134%
Full Cost$29k/yr
Never
-119%
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-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-83%
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
Air Transportation
AssocCIP: 4901
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$82,555
Lifetime Value Added
+$305k
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (2yr)
$39,369
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$17,063
Earnings (5yr)
$75,713
Lifetime Value Added
+$244k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$70,417
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Agricultural Business and Management
BachCIP: 0101
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$61,223
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Agriculture, General
BachCIP: 0100
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$63,031
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Air Transportation
BachCIP: 4901
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (5yr)
$66,893
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$21,476
Earnings (5yr)
$70,006
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$21,936
Earnings (5yr)
$44,349
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$45,475
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Apparel and Textiles
BachCIP: 1909
Median Debt
$30,916
Earnings (5yr)
$28,119
Lifetime Value Added
-$282k
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services
BachCIP: 0106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$38,736
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$56,459
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$26,922
Earnings (5yr)
$58,410
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$25,712
Earnings (5yr)
$66,066
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$175k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$19,313
Earnings (5yr)
$78,165
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$46,391
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$23,935
Earnings (2yr)
$58,673
Lifetime Value Added
+$1k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$106,322
Lifetime Value Added
+$333k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$55,612
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$57,061
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (5yr)
$35,096
Lifetime Value Added
-$222k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$21,201
Earnings (5yr)
$54,554
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,465
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$92,494
Lifetime Value Added
+$229k
Engineering Technology, General
BachCIP: 1500
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,829
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$26,250
Earnings (5yr)
$36,811
Lifetime Value Added
-$208k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$18,525
Earnings (5yr)
$34,839
Lifetime Value Added
-$225k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$63,649
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$36,135
Lifetime Value Added
-$214k
Forestry
BachCIP: 0305
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$54,092
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science
BachCIP: 1203
Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (5yr)
$57,664
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,022
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$51,063
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$21,345
Earnings (5yr)
$42,513
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$21,687
Earnings (5yr)
$43,377
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,602
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1506
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$71,582
Lifetime Value Added
+$73k
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,430
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$21,269
Earnings (5yr)
$46,940
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Legal Support Services
BachCIP: 2203
Median Debt
$24,871
Earnings (5yr)
$48,083
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$27,900
Earnings (5yr)
$48,439
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
BachCIP: 5213
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$62,561
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$23,625
Earnings (5yr)
$63,690
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,670
Lifetime Value Added
-$235k
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1508
Median Debt
$15,193
Earnings (5yr)
$74,324
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$88,465
Lifetime Value Added
+$199k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$23,351
Lifetime Value Added
-$311k
Nutrition Sciences
BachCIP: 3019
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$60,715
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies
BachCIP: 3101
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,108
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$201k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$23,594
Earnings (5yr)
$50,172
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,393
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$23,747
Earnings (5yr)
$38,390
Lifetime Value Added
-$194k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
BachCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$43,950
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,920
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,380
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Soil Sciences
BachCIP: 0112
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,144
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (5yr)
$46,500
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$20,115
Earnings (5yr)
$46,084
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$17,680
Earnings (5yr)
$63,679
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
BachCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$79,862
Lifetime Value Added
+$135k
Zoology/Animal Biology
BachCIP: 2607
Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (5yr)
$38,317
Lifetime Value Added
-$195k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$15,897
Earnings (5yr)
$69,606
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
MastCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$60,389
Earnings (5yr)
$125,602
Lifetime Value Added
+$628k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$30,233
Earnings (5yr)
$76,175
Lifetime Value Added
+$205k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$37,374
Earnings (5yr)
$86,437
Lifetime Value Added
+$293k
Communication and Media Studies
MastCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,866
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$60,361
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,835
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,782
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,508
Lifetime Value Added
-$295k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,349
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies
MastCIP: 2202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,617
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,182
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,246
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$40,400
Earnings (5yr)
$79,815
Lifetime Value Added
+$236k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$29,951
Earnings (5yr)
$57,300
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$37,135
Earnings (5yr)
$55,952
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Zoology/Animal Biology
MastCIP: 2607
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,856
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Doctoral Degrees
Psychology, General
DocCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$69,338
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
Professional Degrees
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$91,500
Earnings (5yr)
$75,561
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$222,981
Earnings (5yr)
$206,035
Lifetime Value Added
+$1001k
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.