College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Southern University at Shreveport

Shreveport, LA 1,974 Undergrads 17.6% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$18,188
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,890
After Aid
Median Earnings
$33,099
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$12,890
Peer Midpoint: $9,014
Earnings (10yr)$33,099
Peer Midpoint: $40,397
Graduation Rate17.6%
Peer Midpoint: 32.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients76.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time69.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS36.9%

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
+$337k
-$52k
-$148k
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$313k
-$76k
-$171k
Full Cost$18k/yr
+$303k
-$86k
-$181k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$13k/yr
Never
-724%
Full Cost$18k/yr
Never
-542%
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-866%

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-223%
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

Certificates

Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5110
Median Debt
$7,500
Earnings (5yr)
$30,420
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k

Associate's Degrees

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (5yr)
$37,907
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Business/Commerce, General
AssocCIP: 5201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$36,503
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$17,250
Earnings (5yr)
$26,994
Lifetime Value Added
-$214k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$18,875
Earnings (5yr)
$35,390
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$19,457
Earnings (5yr)
$84,058
Lifetime Value Added
+$324k

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.