College ROI

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Texas Southern University

Houston, TX 6,844 Undergrads 36.2% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$27,052
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,590
After Aid
Median Earnings
$55,112
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$16,590
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$55,112
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Warning: This school's reported earnings inflated significantly (+42%) when the Dept of Education excluded non-graduates from the dataset. Take caution when comparing.
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$38,924
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate36.2%
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 Age22.4
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients71.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time87.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS53.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
96.9%
SAT Avg
914
SAT Reading
25th: 42046575th: 520
SAT Math
25th: 38044575th: 480
ACT Composite
25th: 151775th: 19

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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$496k
+$29k
+$12k
Median Cost$17k/yr
+$436k
-$31k
-$48k
Full Cost$27k/yr
+$399k
-$68k
-$86k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
51
∞
Median Cost$17k/yr
Never
-81%
Full Cost$27k/yr
Never
-88%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-61%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-68%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$24,693
Earnings (4yr)
$59,386
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Air Transportation
BachCIP: 4901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,820
Natl Median: $85,825
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,305
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
-$240k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$27,875
Earnings (4yr)
$55,321
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,203
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,038
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,549
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,595
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,846
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Median Debt
$29,000
Earnings (4yr)
$40,687
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$65,875
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $83,742
Lifetime Value Added
-$255k
Median Debt
$31,085
Earnings (4yr)
$45,961
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,942
Natl Median: $84,599
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,357
Natl Median: $48,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
Median Debt
$26,751
Earnings (4yr)
$70,201
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$71k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (4yr)
$48,426
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Median Debt
$29,000
Earnings (4yr)
$44,612
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Homeland Security
BachCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,193
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,152
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Median Debt
$31,152
Earnings (4yr)
$44,953
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$28,750
Earnings (4yr)
$41,768
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$29,480
Earnings (4yr)
$62,728
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (5yr)
$54,608
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$34,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,185
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,275
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,775
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Median Debt
$29,738
Earnings (4yr)
$51,195
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,147
Natl Median: $44,260
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$29,500
Earnings (4yr)
$49,871
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,482
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$55,500
Earnings (4yr)
$76,981
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,665
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$50,573
Earnings (4yr)
$62,147
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$75,749
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
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: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$40,485
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$314k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Homeland Security
MastCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,660
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,092
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$52,147
Earnings (4yr)
$64,662
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,667
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$175k

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,427
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,031
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,943
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,696
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,794
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$83,014
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Median Debt
$74,412
Earnings (4yr)
$141,000
Natl Median: $138,348
Lifetime Value Added
+$337k

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.