College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of Alaska Southeast

Juneau, AK 920 Undergrads 35.7% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$16,796
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$7,233
After Aid
Median Earnings
$48,475
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$7,233
Peer Midpoint: $16,832
Earnings (10yr)$48,475
Peer Midpoint: $31,349
Graduation Rate35.7%
Peer Midpoint: 66.3%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients26.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time46.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS62.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
62.5%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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
+$511k
+$186k
+$27k
Median Cost$7k/yr
+$504k
+$180k
+$20k
Full Cost$17k/yr
+$495k
+$171k
+$11k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
30
Median Cost$7k/yr
34
298%
Full Cost$17k/yr
41
71%
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 Return252%

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 Return11%
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

Associate's Degrees

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$10,095
Earnings (5yr)
$49,377
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k

Bachelor's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$22,698
Earnings (5yr)
$72,398
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,825
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k

Master's Degrees

Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$26,860
Earnings (5yr)
$93,259
Lifetime Value Added
+$368k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$63,749
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,893
Lifetime Value Added
+$167k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (5yr)
$63,556
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k

Graduate Certificates

Special Education and Teaching
Gr-CertCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,775
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k

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.