College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Southwest University at El Paso

El Paso, TX 1,817 Undergrads 75.7% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$23,946
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$17,803
After Aid
Median Earnings
$29,648
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$17,803
Peer Midpoint: $9,014
Earnings (10yr)$29,648
Peer Midpoint: $40,397
Graduation Rate75.7%
Peer Midpoint: 32.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients81.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time100.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS49.2%

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
+$304k
-$85k
-$181k
Median Cost$18k/yr
+$271k
-$118k
-$213k
Full Cost$24k/yr
+$260k
-$129k
-$225k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$18k/yr
Never
-652%
Full Cost$24k/yr
Never
-511%
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-814%

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-218%
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

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
CertCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$27,546
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k

Associate's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
AssocCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$19,998
Earnings (5yr)
$28,877
Lifetime Value Added
-$204k
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$17,367
Earnings (5yr)
$28,943
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$41,654
Earnings (5yr)
$61,551
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5110
Median Debt
$24,750
Earnings (5yr)
$33,010
Lifetime Value Added
-$162k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$27,304
Lifetime Value Added
-$220k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$34,193
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k

Bachelor's Degrees

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other
BachCIP: 5299
Median Debt
$47,083
Earnings (5yr)
$40,101
Lifetime Value Added
-$186k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$48,996
Earnings (5yr)
$33,621
Lifetime Value Added
-$241k

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.