College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of Houston-Victoria

Victoria, TX 2,630 Undergrads 41.3% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$21,179
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$8,624
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,467
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$8,624
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$54,467
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate41.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients46.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time44.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS71.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
76.7%
SAT Avg
1,085
SAT Reading
25th: 493-75th: 600
SAT Math
25th: 500-75th: 580
ACT Composite
25th: 19-75th: 25

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
+$473k
+$77k
-$11k
Median Cost$9k/yr
+$442k
+$46k
-$42k
Full Cost$21k/yr
+$397k
+$539
-$87k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$9k/yr
Never
-136%
Full Cost$21k/yr
Never
-115%
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-102%

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-72%
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
$18,973
Earnings (5yr)
$68,254
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,674
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$15,234
Earnings (5yr)
$66,322
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$20,324
Earnings (5yr)
$59,197
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,324
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$16,016
Earnings (5yr)
$99,627
Lifetime Value Added
+$310k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$25,629
Earnings (5yr)
$48,224
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$21,624
Earnings (2yr)
$36,134
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$16,625
Earnings (5yr)
$64,724
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$66,915
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,848
Lifetime Value Added
-$161k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$20,863
Earnings (5yr)
$52,913
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$17,695
Earnings (5yr)
$50,757
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$94,341
Lifetime Value Added
+$270k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$33,483
Earnings (5yr)
$91,225
Lifetime Value Added
+$348k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$62,025
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$26,945
Earnings (5yr)
$66,729
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
Publishing
MastCIP: 0910
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$106,421
Lifetime Value Added
+$534k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$35,069
Earnings (5yr)
$62,673
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k

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.