College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, MO 5,648 Undergrads 58.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$22,947
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$14,462
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,054
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$14,462
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$54,054
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$49,560
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate58.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age22.0
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients33.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time86.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS72.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
63.8%
SAT Avg
1,050
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: 17-75th: 24

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
+$487k
+$20k
+$3k
Median Cost$14k/yr
+$435k
-$32k
-$49k
Full Cost$23k/yr
+$405k
-$62k
-$80k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
60
∞
Median Cost$14k/yr
Never
-94%
Full Cost$23k/yr
Never
-96%
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-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-66%
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: $57,702
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
CertCIP: 1500
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,156
Natl Median: $57,354
Lifetime Value Added
+$323k
Homeland Security
CertCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,584
Natl Median: $62,995
Lifetime Value Added
+$169k
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$72,417
Natl Median: $57,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$306k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,242
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
CertCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,757
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,024
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$76,930
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$130k
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,248
Natl Median: $66,647
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Air Transportation
BachCIP: 4901
Median Debt
$20,312
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,825
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,018
Earnings (4yr)
$60,063
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
-$215
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,371
Earnings (4yr)
$48,112
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Median Debt
$24,188
Earnings (4yr)
$58,736
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (4yr)
$52,463
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,753
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$81,657
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$167k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,742
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$19,593
Earnings (4yr)
$90,822
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$236k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,587
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,150
Earnings (4yr)
$84,428
Natl Median: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
+$188k
Median Debt
$20,850
Earnings (4yr)
$96,186
Natl Median: $95,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$277k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,875
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Median Debt
$20,076
Earnings (4yr)
$42,778
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,803
Natl Median: $55,753
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Median Debt
$20,972
Earnings (4yr)
$71,326
Natl Median: $71,753
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,179
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$69,359
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k
Education, Other
BachCIP: 1399
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$44,338
Natl Median: $49,113
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$74,668
Natl Median: $84,599
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
BachCIP: 1500
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$75,375
Natl Median: $80,526
Lifetime Value Added
+$119k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,464
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$34,656
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$220k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$66,897
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$54k
Median Debt
$23,695
Earnings (4yr)
$36,421
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$199k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,870
Natl Median: $43,283
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Median Debt
$25,062
Earnings (4yr)
$53,677
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,029
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
Homeland Security
BachCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,595
Natl Median: $70,193
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,931
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Median Debt
$23,502
Earnings (4yr)
$43,166
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,023
Earnings (4yr)
$51,897
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,019
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$262k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$59,124
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,774
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$66,864
Natl Median: $82,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$42,610
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,719
Earnings (4yr)
$63,965
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,441
Natl Median: $49,543
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$61,784
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$84,738
Natl Median: $86,525
Lifetime Value Added
+$190k
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$43,463
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Median Debt
$18,268
Earnings (4yr)
$80,542
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
Median Debt
$19,294
Earnings (4yr)
$47,390
Natl Median: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$23,854
Earnings (4yr)
$51,349
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$45,862
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$39,569
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k
Median Debt
$24,125
Earnings (4yr)
$46,797
Natl Median: $59,631
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,328
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$38,807
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$178k
Median Debt
$25,104
Earnings (4yr)
$40,486
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$85,605
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Air Transportation
MastCIP: 4901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,104
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,240
Earnings (4yr)
$84,445
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Median Debt
$35,668
Earnings (4yr)
$60,825
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,861
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Median Debt
$37,505
Earnings (4yr)
$68,853
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$36,946
Earnings (4yr)
$54,552
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,348
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,585
Earnings (4yr)
$57,406
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (4yr)
$54,579
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,523
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Gerontology
MastCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,524
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $119,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,051
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$28,571
Earnings (4yr)
$48,021
Natl Median: $56,301
Lifetime Value Added
-$253k
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$40,188
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$313k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$103,490
Natl Median: $103,349
Lifetime Value Added
+$244k
Median Debt
$27,619
Earnings (4yr)
$121,342
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$400k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,216
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
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
$19,975
Earnings (4yr)
$53,052
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$204k
Median Debt
$24,332
Earnings (4yr)
$45,860
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$274k
Median Debt
$26,462
Earnings (4yr)
$54,305
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,975
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
-$300k

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.