College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Texas State University

San Marcos, TX 36,177 Undergrads 62.3% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$28,073
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,805
After Aid
Median Earnings
$58,786
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$16,805
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$58,786
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$56,906
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate62.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age21.5
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients36.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time85.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
89.3%
SAT Avg
1,103
SAT Reading
25th: 50055075th: 610
SAT Math
25th: 48053575th: 590
ACT Composite
25th: 192275th: 25

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
+$526k
+$59k
+$42k
Median Cost$17k/yr
+$465k
-$1k
-$19k
Full Cost$28k/yr
+$425k
-$42k
-$59k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
40
∞
Median Cost$17k/yr
Never
-31%
Full Cost$28k/yr
Never
-59%
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 Return-10%

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-55%
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

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
CertCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,263
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,385
Earnings (4yr)
$61,225
Natl Median: $58,705
Lifetime Value Added
+$193k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,561
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$21,875
Earnings (4yr)
$78,418
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$133k
Median Debt
$19,625
Earnings (4yr)
$49,571
Natl Median: $66,647
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Median Debt
$21,469
Earnings (4yr)
$71,237
Natl Median: $53,676
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$79,289
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$140k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$20,875
Earnings (4yr)
$51,157
Natl Median: $49,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$40,706
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
$24,366
Earnings (4yr)
$72,464
Natl Median: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,889
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,365
Earnings (4yr)
$64,830
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$22,837
Earnings (4yr)
$55,605
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Median Debt
$18,543
Earnings (4yr)
$67,048
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
Median Debt
$20,012
Earnings (4yr)
$74,435
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$103k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,396
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Median Debt
$20,792
Earnings (4yr)
$55,625
Natl Median: $66,874
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$68,940
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$53,009
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Median Debt
$18,524
Earnings (4yr)
$66,995
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$77,701
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$128k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$22,842
Earnings (4yr)
$104,127
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$330k
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
BachCIP: 1510
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$100,352
Natl Median: $93,843
Lifetime Value Added
+$301k
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,447
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$53,057
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$61,539
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$48,502
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$71,739
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
Median Debt
$24,987
Earnings (4yr)
$94,780
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$258k
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
BachCIP: 1500
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$78,671
Natl Median: $80,526
Lifetime Value Added
+$135k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,619
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,769
Earnings (4yr)
$47,634
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
BachCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,848
Natl Median: $56,185
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k
Median Debt
$19,349
Earnings (4yr)
$49,406
Natl Median: $53,262
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Median Debt
$25,239
Earnings (4yr)
$39,473
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
Median Debt
$21,291
Earnings (4yr)
$75,100
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k
Median Debt
$24,742
Earnings (4yr)
$44,934
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,836
Natl Median: $54,945
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Median Debt
$20,123
Earnings (4yr)
$60,646
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,430
Earnings (4yr)
$60,895
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,329
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Median Debt
$20,985
Earnings (4yr)
$50,151
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Median Debt
$24,483
Earnings (4yr)
$90,729
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$227k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (4yr)
$53,407
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$21,482
Earnings (4yr)
$60,976
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$1k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$16,869
Earnings (4yr)
$57,963
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Median Debt
$22,687
Earnings (4yr)
$54,099
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (4yr)
$88,995
Natl Median: $88,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$214k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$71,539
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$58,566
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Median Debt
$23,115
Earnings (4yr)
$65,502
Natl Median: $62,582
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Median Debt
$21,635
Earnings (4yr)
$54,053
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$52,320
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Median Debt
$23,200
Earnings (4yr)
$55,595
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$47,752
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,768
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$65,217
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
Median Debt
$20,231
Earnings (4yr)
$56,716
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,549
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Median Debt
$24,141
Earnings (4yr)
$59,074
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$23,375
Earnings (4yr)
$54,229
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Median Debt
$19,536
Earnings (4yr)
$59,009
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Median Debt
$20,964
Earnings (4yr)
$49,987
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$84,557
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$180k
Median Debt
$20,045
Earnings (4yr)
$58,484
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (4yr)
$54,541
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,766
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$21,360
Earnings (4yr)
$53,434
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Median Debt
$22,014
Earnings (4yr)
$58,794
Natl Median: $59,631
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$22,084
Earnings (4yr)
$55,832
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$43,943
Natl Median: $44,055
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$17,425
Earnings (4yr)
$99,772
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$207k
Median Debt
$30,370
Earnings (4yr)
$65,834
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$33,251
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
-$337k
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,241
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,271
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,079
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Median Debt
$23,092
Earnings (4yr)
$109,005
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$288k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$40,940
Earnings (4yr)
$63,761
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$70,534
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Median Debt
$38,332
Earnings (4yr)
$71,450
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$86,129
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$118k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,491
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,073
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,573
Natl Median: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,348
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,300
Earnings (4yr)
$66,494
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,595
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$242k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,215
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,914
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,142
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$35,716
Earnings (4yr)
$64,351
Natl Median: $66,523
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Gerontology
MastCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$34,907
Earnings (4yr)
$72,926
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$29,575
Earnings (4yr)
$48,794
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$249k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,123
Natl Median: $58,524
Lifetime Value Added
-$298k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
MastCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $86,219
Lifetime Value Added
-$337k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$67,050
Natl Median: $77,310
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,866
Natl Median: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$33,399
Earnings (4yr)
$37,655
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$359k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,883
Natl Median: $57,803
Lifetime Value Added
-$220k
Philosophy
MastCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$49,058
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
-$228k
Median Debt
$22,440
Earnings (4yr)
$68,342
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Median Debt
$35,780
Earnings (4yr)
$111,334
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$308k
Median Debt
$28,935
Earnings (4yr)
$44,837
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$288k
Median Debt
$32,780
Earnings (4yr)
$62,661
Natl Median: $63,216
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Median Debt
$31,917
Earnings (4yr)
$65,348
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$30,722
Earnings (4yr)
$62,619
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$36,380
Earnings (4yr)
$70,116
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Median Debt
$30,500
Earnings (4yr)
$62,709
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$30,500
Earnings (4yr)
$64,908
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,897
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,824
Earnings (4yr)
$54,565
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$194k
Median Debt
$25,473
Earnings (4yr)
$59,180
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k

Graduate Certificates

Computer Science
Gr-CertCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,742
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,010
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,117
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Legal Support Services
Gr-CertCIP: 2203
Median Debt
$33,135
Earnings (5yr)
$60,462
Natl Median: $69,929
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Philosophy
Gr-CertCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,543
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,095
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,611
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,147
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,709
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,427
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, Other
DocCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,635
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$44,977
Earnings (4yr)
$91,833
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,469
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,845
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $87,076
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,168
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Median Debt
$56,406
Earnings (4yr)
$76,047
Natl Median: $81,641
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k

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.