College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of Missouri-St Louis

Saint Louis, MO 5,024 Undergrads 62.9% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$30,509
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$14,990
After Aid
Median Earnings
$62,635
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$14,990
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$62,635
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$59,899
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate62.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)25.1
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 Recipients45.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time75.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
62.7%
SAT Avg
1,199
SAT Reading
25th: 51061075th: 630
SAT Math
25th: 55063075th: 660
ACT Composite
25th: 192475th: 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)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$550k
+$80k
+$64k
Median Cost$15k/yr
+$496k
+$26k
+$10k
Full Cost$31k/yr
+$440k
-$30k
-$46k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
36
∞
Median Cost$15k/yr
56
18%
Full Cost$31k/yr
Never
-42%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.⚠️ 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

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 Return17%

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-51%

Program ROI Analysis

These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →

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: $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
$19,719
Earnings (4yr)
$72,635
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
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Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,397
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
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Median Debt
$17,188
Earnings (4yr)
$66,483
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
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Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$18,250
Earnings (4yr)
$55,358
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
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Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (4yr)
$65,373
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,632
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
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Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$81,305
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$164k
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Median Debt
$15,875
Earnings (4yr)
$48,059
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$20,625
Earnings (4yr)
$102,723
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$327k
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Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$18,075
Earnings (4yr)
$52,331
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
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Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,476
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
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Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$38,074
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$187k
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Median Debt
$29,250
Earnings (4yr)
$96,083
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$277k
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Median Debt
$20,625
Earnings (4yr)
$43,582
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
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Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$45,491
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$21,441
Earnings (4yr)
$41,378
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,125
Earnings (4yr)
$51,187
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,768
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$89,660
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$228k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,331
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
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Median Debt
$27,730
Earnings (4yr)
$84,087
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$185k
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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
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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
$11,750
Earnings (4yr)
$60,016
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$48,014
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$16,812
Earnings (4yr)
$78,608
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$143k
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Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,337
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,878
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
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Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$38,980
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$210k
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Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$86,056
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
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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
$24,400
Earnings (4yr)
$129,101
Natl Median: $125,988
Lifetime Value Added
+$467k
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Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,828
Earnings (4yr)
$58,181
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
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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
-$35k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$291k
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History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,457
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$290k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$116,260
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$356k
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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 (5yr)
$65,109
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$63,005
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$37,512
Earnings (4yr)
$57,905
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
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Median Debt
$34,750
Earnings (4yr)
$53,964
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$198k
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Median Debt
$43,717
Earnings (4yr)
$49,897
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$237k
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Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,852
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k
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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)
$70,823
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
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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
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
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
+$802k
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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
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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
$61,500
Earnings (4yr)
$85,991
Natl Median: $87,373
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
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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 (5yr)
$134,070
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
+$273k
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Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (4yr)
$114,746
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$150k
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Professional Degrees

Optometry
ProfCIP: 5117
Median Debt
$196,418
Earnings (4yr)
$138,537
Natl Median: $131,525
Lifetime Value Added
+$325k
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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.