College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Stephen F Austin State University

Nacogdoches, TX 8,728 Undergrads 56.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$28,762
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$15,928
After Aid
Median Earnings
$55,410
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$15,928
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$55,410
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$54,376
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate56.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)21.4
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients44.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time90.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS70.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
94.0%
SAT Avg
1,066
SAT Reading
25th: 50054075th: 600
SAT Math
25th: 47052075th: 570
ACT Composite
25th: 182175th: 24

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
+$492k
+$22k
+$5k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$434k
-$36k
-$52k
Full Cost$29k/yr
+$388k
-$82k
-$98k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
57
∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
Never
-91%
Full Cost$29k/yr
Never
-95%
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 Return-74%

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-73%

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)
$69,635
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$71k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,278
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,984
Natl Median: $49,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$22,125
Earnings (4yr)
$54,199
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
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Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$62,185
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
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Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$61,686
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$26,973
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,085
Earnings (4yr)
$50,302
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
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Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$61,476
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
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Median Debt
$23,843
Earnings (4yr)
$75,271
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
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Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,606
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
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Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,593
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
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Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$41,450
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$161k
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Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering Physics
BachCIP: 1412
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$80,086
Natl Median: $89,154
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
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Median Debt
$20,375
Earnings (4yr)
$46,849
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,926
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,218
Earnings (4yr)
$44,600
Natl Median: $48,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
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Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$65,535
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
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Median Debt
$24,625
Earnings (4yr)
$38,042
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,742
Natl Median: $54,945
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
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Forestry
BachCIP: 0305
Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (4yr)
$55,786
Natl Median: $58,784
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,716
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$48,680
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
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Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (4yr)
$49,776
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,619
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
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Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,494
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
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Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,974
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,075
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
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Median Debt
$20,017
Earnings (4yr)
$50,052
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$25,034
Earnings (4yr)
$52,341
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,077
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
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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
Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,567
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,075
Earnings (4yr)
$49,980
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,125
Earnings (4yr)
$43,697
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$84,107
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$182k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,393
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$34,743
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$219k
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Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$19,625
Earnings (4yr)
$50,754
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,148
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$20,550
Earnings (4yr)
$55,250
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,437
Natl Median: $45,338
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
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Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$13,908
Earnings (4yr)
$77,510
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,941
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,690
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,371
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,469
Earnings (2yr)
$52,941
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$31,774
Earnings (4yr)
$67,348
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
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Median Debt
$18,941
Earnings (4yr)
$69,559
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$427k
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Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (4yr)
$65,344
Natl Median: $60,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Forestry
MastCIP: 0305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$90,447
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
+$113k
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History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$54,287
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,471
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,803
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,170
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$277k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$25,521
Earnings (4yr)
$61,841
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
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Median Debt
$29,145
Earnings (4yr)
$62,368
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,405
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$243k
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Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,015
Earnings (4yr)
$58,776
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$82,372
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
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Forestry
DocCIP: 0305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,046
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 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.