College ROI

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University of Missouri-St Louis

Saint Louis, MO 5,024 Undergrads 61.9% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$31,199
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$15,071
After Aid
Median Earnings
$62,350
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$15,071
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$62,350
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$53,037
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate61.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age25.1
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients42.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time75.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
62.7%
SAT Avg
1,199
SAT Reading
25th: 51057575th: 630
SAT Math
25th: 55058575th: 660
ACT Composite
25th: 192675th: 27

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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$554k
+$88k
+$70k
Median Cost$15k/yr
+$500k
+$33k
+$16k
Full Cost$31k/yr
+$442k
-$25k
-$42k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
35
∞
Median Cost$15k/yr
52
29%
Full Cost$31k/yr
Never
-38%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return26%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-48%
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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,097
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,445
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,761
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,556
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,615
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $29,202
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,315
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,763
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$18,774
Earnings (4yr)
$72,635
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$40,397
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Median Debt
$23,850
Earnings (4yr)
$66,483
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (4yr)
$55,358
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Median Debt
$17,956
Earnings (4yr)
$65,373
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,244
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$81,305
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$162k
Median Debt
$17,250
Earnings (4yr)
$48,059
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$102,723
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$325k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$18,504
Earnings (4yr)
$52,331
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$18,771
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$350k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$18,250
Earnings (4yr)
$64,476
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$27,147
Earnings (4yr)
$38,074
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$187k
Median Debt
$18,698
Earnings (4yr)
$96,083
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$274k
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$43,582
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Median Debt
$24,075
Earnings (4yr)
$45,491
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$41,378
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$51,187
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Median Debt
$23,282
Earnings (4yr)
$40,768
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$89,660
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$225k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$16,187
Earnings (4yr)
$65,331
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Median Debt
$27,250
Earnings (4yr)
$84,087
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$183k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,496
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
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
$20,687
Earnings (4yr)
$60,016
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$18,581
Earnings (4yr)
$48,014
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,187
Earnings (4yr)
$78,608
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$24,125
Earnings (4yr)
$52,337
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$21,325
Earnings (4yr)
$39,878
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$38,980
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$210k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$18,945
Earnings (4yr)
$86,056
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$90k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,271
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$28,405
Earnings (4yr)
$129,101
Natl Median: $125,988
Lifetime Value Added
+$466k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$42,593
Earnings (4yr)
$58,181
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminology
MastCIP: 4504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$71,651
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,772
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$256k
Gerontology
MastCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,457
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$288k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$116,260
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$354k
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
MastCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$73,320
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$109,891
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$299k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$35,579
Earnings (4yr)
$57,905
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Median Debt
$27,027
Earnings (4yr)
$53,964
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Median Debt
$44,447
Earnings (4yr)
$49,897
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$236k
Median Debt
$25,044
Earnings (4yr)
$54,852
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,692
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biotechnology
Gr-CertCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,951
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,618
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,299
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,517
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,168
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Gerontology
Gr-CertCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,464
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
Gr-CertCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,756
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $122,843
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
Gr-CertCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,837
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Museology/Museum Studies
Gr-CertCIP: 3014
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,250
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Administration
Gr-CertCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,022
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Policy Analysis
Gr-CertCIP: 4405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,781
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$152,441
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
+$801k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,611
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,980
Natl Median: $69,147
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,709
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,178
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $113,566
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminology
DocCIP: 4504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,153
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
DocCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$46,923
Earnings (4yr)
$85,991
Natl Median: $87,373
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,153
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,908
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$78,343
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Median Debt
$59,000
Earnings (4yr)
$114,746
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$149k

Professional Degrees

Optometry
ProfCIP: 5117
Median Debt
$167,750
Earnings (4yr)
$138,537
Natl Median: $131,525
Lifetime Value Added
+$324k

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.