Southern Utah University

Cedar City, UT 9,289 Undergrads 58.3% Grad Rate

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Total Cost

$19,416

Sticker Price

Avg Net Price

$10,462

After Aid

Median Earnings

$59,189

4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$10,462

Peer Midpoint: $9,847

Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$59,189

Peer Midpoint: $50,127.5

Graduation Rate58.3%

Peer Midpoint: 34.6%

Socio-Economic Diversity

Pell Grant Recipients33.8%

Enrollment Status

Full-Time84.9%

Economic Outcomes

Earn More than HS68.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance

81.8%

SAT Avg

SAT Reading

25th: -58075th: -

SAT Math

25th: -55575th: -

ACT Composite

25th: -2375th: -

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

+$621k

+$106k

+$137k

Median Cost$10k/yr

+$602k

+$86k

+$118k

Full Cost$19k/yr

+$585k

+$70k

+$101k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age

Return on Inv. %

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

∞

Median Cost$10k/yr

612%

Full Cost$19k/yr

283%

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 Return641%

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 Return107%

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

Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians

CertCIP: 1513

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $53,359

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Education, General

CertCIP: 1301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$48,863

Natl Median: $47,863

Lifetime Value Added

+$70k

English Language and Literature, General

CertCIP: 2301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $29,202

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Geography and Cartography

CertCIP: 4507

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $58,705

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

CertCIP: 2401

Median Debt

$7,000

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $44,906

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

AssocCIP: 4604

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $59,378

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Engineering, General

AssocCIP: 1401

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $72,916

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services

AssocCIP: 1907

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $34,184

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Legal Support Services

AssocCIP: 2203

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $44,669

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

AssocCIP: 2401

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $70,786

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Anthropology

BachCIP: 4502

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $46,676

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Biology, General

BachCIP: 2601

Median Debt

$13,125

Earnings (4yr)

$57,709

Natl Median: $57,214

Lifetime Value Added

-$5k

Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection

BachCIP: 4604

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $90,924

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Business Administration, Management and Operations

BachCIP: 5202

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$43,849

Natl Median: $68,257

Lifetime Value Added

-$128k

Chemistry

BachCIP: 4005

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $65,120

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Communication and Media Studies

BachCIP: 0901

Median Debt

$12,450

Earnings (4yr)

$44,461

Natl Median: $56,359

Lifetime Value Added

-$115k

Computer and Information Sciences, General

BachCIP: 1101

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$79,081

Natl Median: $92,374

Lifetime Value Added

+$149k

Computer Science

BachCIP: 1107

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$83,405

Natl Median: $107,009

Lifetime Value Added

+$182k

Criminal Justice and Corrections

BachCIP: 4301

Median Debt

$16,701

Earnings (4yr)

$60,008

Natl Median: $55,378

Lifetime Value Added

+$14k

Dance

BachCIP: 5003

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $39,980

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Design and Applied Arts

BachCIP: 5004

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$46,163

Natl Median: $51,490

Lifetime Value Added

-$108k

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

BachCIP: 5005

Median Debt

$19,000

Earnings (5yr)

$48,419

Natl Median: $39,775

Lifetime Value Added

-$90k

Economics

BachCIP: 4506

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$47,952

Natl Median: $82,686

Lifetime Value Added

-$69k

Engineering Science

BachCIP: 1413

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $93,782

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General

BachCIP: 1500

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$81,628

Natl Median: $80,526

Lifetime Value Added

+$168k

Engineering, General

BachCIP: 1401

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $89,359

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

English Language and Literature, General

BachCIP: 2301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$38,210

Natl Median: $48,590

Lifetime Value Added

-$169k

Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General

BachCIP: 1901

Median Debt

$12,917

Earnings (4yr)

$36,654

Natl Median: $48,460

Lifetime Value Added

-$182k

Finance and Financial Management Services

BachCIP: 5208

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$100,149

Natl Median: $83,343

Lifetime Value Added

+$322k

Fine and Studio Arts

BachCIP: 5007

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$30,166

Natl Median: $41,367

Lifetime Value Added

-$244k

Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services

BachCIP: 1905

Median Debt

$11,000

Earnings (4yr)

$47,654

Natl Median: $54,945

Lifetime Value Added

-$88k

History

BachCIP: 5401

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$36,457

Natl Median: $50,680

Lifetime Value Added

-$184k

Hospitality Administration/Management

BachCIP: 5209

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$44,327

Natl Median: $56,726

Lifetime Value Added

-$124k

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

BachCIP: 2401

Median Debt

$14,200

Earnings (4yr)

$54,147

Natl Median: $53,072

Lifetime Value Added

-$34k

Marketing

BachCIP: 5214

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$54,485

Natl Median: $69,303

Lifetime Value Added

-$31k

Mathematics

BachCIP: 2701

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $69,562

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Mechanical Engineering

BachCIP: 1419

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $92,135

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other

BachCIP: 3099

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$48,998

Natl Median: $55,693

Lifetime Value Added

-$77k

Music

BachCIP: 5009

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $42,892

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies

BachCIP: 3101

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$37,309

Natl Median: $50,983

Lifetime Value Added

-$183k

Philosophy

BachCIP: 3801

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $54,455

Lifetime Value Added

BachCIP: 1609

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,000

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

MastCIP: 0901

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $71,953

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management

MastCIP: 1110

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $121,855

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Education, General

MastCIP: 1301

Median Debt

$14,798

Earnings (4yr)

$83,304

Natl Median: $65,824

Lifetime Value Added

+$75k

Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General

MastCIP: 3000

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

Public Administration

MastCIP: 4404

Median Debt

$17,000

Earnings (4yr)

$77,113

Natl Median: $81,408

Lifetime Value Added

+$21k

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness

MastCIP: 3105

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $62,033

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Other Programs

Basic Skills and Developmental/Remedial Education

DegCIP: 3201

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $44,555

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 degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.