College ROI

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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Edwardsville, IL 8,750 Undergrads 61.1% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$27,314
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,111
After Aid
Median Earnings
$66,436
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$13,111
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$66,436
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$59,436
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate61.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)21.8
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients35.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time85.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
97.5%
SAT Avg
1,100
SAT Reading
25th: 49054075th: 600
SAT Math
25th: 46053075th: 590
ACT Composite
25th: 202475th: 27

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
+$580k
+$110k
+$93k
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$533k
+$62k
+$46k
Full Cost$27k/yr
+$481k
+$11k
-$5k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
33
∞
Median Cost$13k/yr
42
98%
Full Cost$27k/yr
Never
-5%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
  • 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 Return85%

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-31%

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 →

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$69,610
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
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Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,974
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
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Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,953
Earnings (4yr)
$60,059
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
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Median Debt
$16,364
Earnings (4yr)
$65,403
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,248
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$70,541
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
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Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$20,025
Earnings (4yr)
$85,969
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$206k
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Median Debt
$18,754
Earnings (4yr)
$52,466
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
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Median Debt
$13,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,615
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,513
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$94,494
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$271k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$19,753
Earnings (4yr)
$106,082
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$360k
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Median Debt
$21,916
Earnings (4yr)
$57,915
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,166
Natl Median: $55,753
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,698
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
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Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,704
Earnings (4yr)
$99,325
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$308k
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Median Debt
$18,806
Earnings (4yr)
$41,310
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
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Median Debt
$22,067
Earnings (4yr)
$36,717
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,877
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$18,250
Earnings (4yr)
$46,814
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$82,744
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$182k
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International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,191
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,321
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
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Median Debt
$21,792
Earnings (4yr)
$81,428
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$172k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,649
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,400
Earnings (4yr)
$55,110
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,196
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
Median Debt
$14,007
Earnings (4yr)
$52,564
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (4yr)
$48,951
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
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Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$24,937
Earnings (4yr)
$47,652
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
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Median Debt
$19,201
Earnings (4yr)
$83,867
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$190k
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Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (4yr)
$52,480
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$51,465
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,928
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$18,250
Earnings (4yr)
$49,837
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
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Median Debt
$18,399
Earnings (4yr)
$43,916
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
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Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$18,035
Earnings (4yr)
$92,327
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$150k
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Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,011
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
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Median Debt
$23,852
Earnings (4yr)
$106,907
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$277k
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Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$32,302
Earnings (4yr)
$55,894
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,696
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,348
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,592
Earnings (4yr)
$57,089
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$74,576
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,111
Earnings (4yr)
$94,737
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$171k
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Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities
MastCIP: 5132
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,487
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: $119,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,106
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: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,520
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $129,214
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$70,882
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
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Median Debt
$28,785
Earnings (4yr)
$74,407
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$108,768
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$294k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$40,821
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$306k
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Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$27,318
Earnings (4yr)
$62,412
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
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Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$20,313
Earnings (4yr)
$59,145
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Museology/Museum Studies
Gr-CertCIP: 3014
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,250
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$56,654
Earnings (4yr)
$157,682
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$472k
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Professional Degrees

Dentistry
ProfCIP: 5104
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$184,815
Natl Median: $170,812
Lifetime Value Added
+$670k
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Median Debt
$128,567
Earnings (4yr)
$135,751
Natl Median: $138,348
Lifetime Value Added
+$311k
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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.