College ROI

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Tennessee State University

Nashville, TN 4,848 Undergrads 38.3% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$25,814
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,154
After Aid
Median Earnings
$55,014
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$12,154
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$55,014
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$47,151
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate38.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average starting age (2015-17)22.2
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients56.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time92.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS59.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
70.1%
SAT Avg
1,000
SAT Reading
25th: 46050075th: 540
SAT Math
25th: 42046075th: 510
ACT Composite
25th: 161975th: 21

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
+$489k
+$18k
+$2k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$445k
-$25k
-$42k
Full Cost$26k/yr
+$396k
-$74k
-$91k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
61
∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
Never
-95%
Full Cost$26k/yr
Never
-98%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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-77%

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-71%

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 →

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
$17,250
Earnings (4yr)
$56,729
Natl Median: $61,982
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
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Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,414
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
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Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$42,503
Natl Median: $53,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,629
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,406
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,276
Earnings (4yr)
$59,855
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
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Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$57,083
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,133
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$226k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$58,221
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
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Median Debt
$21,875
Earnings (4yr)
$43,121
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$25,125
Earnings (4yr)
$67,292
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
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Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$46,062
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,061
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$61,020
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$200k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,524
Natl Median: $53,262
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$36,332
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k
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Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (4yr)
$53,231
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
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Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$48,365
Natl Median: $68,245
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,249
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Natl Median: $82,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$64,990
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,483
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,008
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$46,721
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$92,380
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$259k
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Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,989
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,853
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,568
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
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Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,886
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,941
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,914
Earnings (4yr)
$87,602
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k
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Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$39,750
Earnings (4yr)
$59,413
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,067
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,215
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$86,655
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k
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Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,937
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$293k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,823
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$223k
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Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,369
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$319k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$115,908
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$358k
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Median Debt
$51,250
Earnings (4yr)
$69,241
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
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Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,826
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,337
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$330k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Public Administration
Gr-CertCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,022
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Policy Analysis
Gr-CertCIP: 4405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,781
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $167,302
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,031
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$66,166
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,464
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$71,750
Earnings (4yr)
$82,654
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
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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.