College ROI

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University of Central Arkansas

Conway, AR 7,762 Undergrads 50.6% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$25,029
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,511
After Aid
Median Earnings
$52,203
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$16,511
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$52,203
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$45,938
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate50.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age21.2
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients39.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time88.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS62.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
89.5%
SAT Avg
1,118
SAT Reading
25th: 48055075th: 590
SAT Math
25th: 43052075th: 580
ACT Composite
25th: 192375th: 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
+$472k
+$5k
-$12k
Median Cost$17k/yr
+$413k
-$54k
-$72k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$382k
-$85k
-$102k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$17k/yr
Never
-121%
Full Cost$25k/yr
Never
-114%
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-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-76%
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

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,509
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$16,798
Earnings (4yr)
$72,684
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (4yr)
$66,499
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,891
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,756
Earnings (4yr)
$50,742
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Median Debt
$18,307
Earnings (4yr)
$57,826
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Median Debt
$18,150
Earnings (4yr)
$59,641
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$53,755
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,691
Earnings (4yr)
$36,336
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$207k
Median Debt
$13,767
Earnings (4yr)
$55,316
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Median Debt
$22,079
Earnings (4yr)
$75,893
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$19,414
Earnings (4yr)
$47,387
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,050
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$17,130
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,314
Earnings (4yr)
$44,809
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,322
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$28,446
Earnings (4yr)
$42,493
Natl Median: $48,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$37,484
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Median Debt
$16,896
Earnings (4yr)
$58,941
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$41,853
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k
Median Debt
$18,775
Earnings (4yr)
$48,556
Natl Median: $54,945
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$16,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,517
Natl Median: $68,245
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (4yr)
$41,043
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
Insurance
BachCIP: 5217
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,472
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$21,562
Earnings (4yr)
$43,189
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,511
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$38,631
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$187k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$74,094
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$19,557
Earnings (4yr)
$57,940
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$16,711
Earnings (4yr)
$63,239
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,129
Natl Median: $52,119
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$46,446
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$51,475
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,351
Earnings (4yr)
$43,363
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$45,649
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (4yr)
$76,783
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,995
Earnings (4yr)
$32,267
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$242k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$23,505
Earnings (4yr)
$40,873
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$43,536
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,557
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Median Debt
$24,227
Earnings (4yr)
$46,295
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
Median Debt
$23,945
Earnings (4yr)
$49,113
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$16,000
Earnings (4yr)
$88,939
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$113k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$36,256
Earnings (4yr)
$56,125
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,597
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,087
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$257k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,186
Earnings (4yr)
$56,798
Natl Median: $60,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,486
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,523
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,722
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,060
Earnings (4yr)
$52,129
Natl Median: $63,870
Lifetime Value Added
-$217k
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$40,276
Earnings (4yr)
$47,991
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$257k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$37,479
Earnings (4yr)
$114,073
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$333k
Median Debt
$38,223
Earnings (4yr)
$67,940
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,397
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
$24,062
Earnings (4yr)
$53,133
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$207k
Median Debt
$26,073
Earnings (4yr)
$47,965
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$257k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,549
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$232k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
$33,513
Earnings (4yr)
$65,355
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,959
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
Gr-CertCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,504
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,147
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,341
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$59,486
Earnings (4yr)
$80,363
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k

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.