College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Union University

Jackson, TN 1,637 Undergrads 61.2% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$55,790
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$26,815
After Aid
Median Earnings
$53,990
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$26,815
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$53,990
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate61.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients27.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time91.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
47.2%
SAT Avg
1,243
SAT Reading
25th: 54063075th: 690
SAT Math
25th: 49059575th: 650
ACT Composite
25th: 222775th: 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
+$469k
+$73k
-$15k
Median Cost$27k/yr
+$373k
-$24k
-$111k
Full Cost$56k/yr
+$269k
-$128k
-$216k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$27k/yr
Never
-116%
Full Cost$56k/yr
Never
-107%
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-104%

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-90%
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

Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$27,147
Earnings (5yr)
$47,078
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$34,256
Lifetime Value Added
-$268k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$34,300
Lifetime Value Added
-$267k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,598
Lifetime Value Added
-$301k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,443
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,007
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$26,506
Earnings (5yr)
$35,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$255k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,353
Lifetime Value Added
-$322k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$17,437
Earnings (5yr)
$79,882
Lifetime Value Added
+$97k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$26,647
Earnings (5yr)
$42,856
Lifetime Value Added
-$195k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,906
Lifetime Value Added
-$178k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,424
Lifetime Value Added
-$221k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$51,250
Earnings (5yr)
$99,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$383k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,763
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$18,074
Earnings (5yr)
$56,875
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$45,333
Earnings (5yr)
$113,834
Lifetime Value Added
+$509k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$39,435
Earnings (5yr)
$50,425
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Theology and Religious Vocations, Other
MastCIP: 3999
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,748
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k

Doctoral Degrees

Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$75,008
Earnings (5yr)
$86,561
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
DocCIP: 5120
Median Debt
$209,190
Earnings (5yr)
$142,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$504k

Professional Degrees

Educational Administration and Supervision
ProfCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$34,108
Earnings (5yr)
$75,621
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k

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.