College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Truman State University

Kirksville, MO 2,666 Undergrads 72.1% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$23,420
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,030
After Aid
Median Earnings
$56,280
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$12,030
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$56,280
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate72.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients18.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time97.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS78.2%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
80.0%
SAT Avg
1,249
SAT Reading
25th: 57360275th: 648
SAT Math
25th: 55359075th: 670
ACT Composite
25th: 232775th: 29

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
+$488k
+$91k
+$3k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$444k
+$48k
-$40k
Full Cost$23k/yr
+$403k
+$7k
-$81k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
59
Median Cost$12k/yr
Never
-92%
Full Cost$23k/yr
Never
-96%
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-72%

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-67%
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

Bachelor's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$74,434
Lifetime Value Added
+$109k
Agriculture, General
BachCIP: 0100
Median Debt
$18,518
Earnings (5yr)
$47,343
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,305
Earnings (5yr)
$53,239
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$22,813
Earnings (5yr)
$74,688
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,208
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$52,801
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$19,875
Earnings (5yr)
$50,757
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$101,211
Lifetime Value Added
+$309k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$59,263
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,236
Lifetime Value Added
-$251k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,478
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,277
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$21,104
Earnings (5yr)
$43,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$43,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$57,756
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$18,625
Earnings (5yr)
$45,494
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,956
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$25,094
Earnings (5yr)
$67,277
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,641
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k

Master's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$14,185
Earnings (5yr)
$97,613
Lifetime Value Added
+$397k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$39,851
Earnings (5yr)
$57,668
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (5yr)
$43,258
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$42,386
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k

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.