College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of Louisiana at Monroe

Monroe, LA 5,022 Undergrads 54.0% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$24,932
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,466
After Aid
Median Earnings
$53,715
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$13,466
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$53,715
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$46,769
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate54.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age21.5
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients45.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time82.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS67.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
84.8%
SAT Avg
1,116
SAT Reading
25th: 54053575th: 630
SAT Math
25th: 62063075th: 730
ACT Composite
25th: 182275th: 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
+$484k
+$18k
+$111
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$436k
-$31k
-$48k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$395k
-$72k
-$90k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
64
Median Cost$13k/yr
Never
-100%
Full Cost$25k/yr
Never
-100%
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-80%

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-70%
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
$14,943
Earnings (4yr)
$41,878
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,071
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$13,036
Earnings (4yr)
$69,533
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Air Transportation
BachCIP: 4901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,825
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,366
Earnings (4yr)
$66,079
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,997
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$33,429
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$221k
Median Debt
$21,650
Earnings (4yr)
$52,842
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Median Debt
$12,555
Earnings (4yr)
$63,390
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Median Debt
$23,972
Earnings (4yr)
$43,974
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Median Debt
$16,450
Earnings (4yr)
$58,406
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$59,124
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Median Debt
$18,093
Earnings (4yr)
$98,336
Natl Median: $95,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$297k
Median Debt
$22,832
Earnings (4yr)
$43,699
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$62,089
Natl Median: $68,061
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Median Debt
$15,704
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,925
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
-$214k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$31,564
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$243k
Median Debt
$25,567
Earnings (4yr)
$50,446
Natl Median: $68,245
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$24,313
Earnings (4yr)
$38,974
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
Insurance
BachCIP: 5217
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$67,704
Natl Median: $88,472
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Median Debt
$23,747
Earnings (4yr)
$45,873
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$18,610
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,297
Earnings (4yr)
$48,837
Natl Median: $68,883
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$134,329
Natl Median: $116,539
Lifetime Value Added
+$570k
Median Debt
$23,467
Earnings (4yr)
$51,722
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,647
Earnings (4yr)
$44,255
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Median Debt
$21,602
Earnings (4yr)
$83,058
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$181k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$28,792
Earnings (4yr)
$34,763
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$210k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$20,473
Earnings (4yr)
$50,370
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Median Debt
$23,125
Earnings (4yr)
$47,767
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,165
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,156
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$80,675
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,984
Earnings (4yr)
$61,066
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,640
Earnings (2yr)
$41,937
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$294k
Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,348
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,490
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
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: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$29,679
Earnings (4yr)
$55,439
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$180k
Median Debt
$25,948
Earnings (4yr)
$54,501
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k
Median Debt
$36,515
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$56,954
Earnings (4yr)
$80,139
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$24,984
Earnings (4yr)
$56,885
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
Median Debt
$48,502
Earnings (4yr)
$54,702
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$187k
Median Debt
$27,969
Earnings (4yr)
$51,577
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$216k

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,031
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,992
Natl Median: $77,066
Lifetime Value Added
-$386k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,696
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$134,144
Natl Median: $138,348
Lifetime Value Added
+$298k

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.