College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls, SD 1,258 Undergrads 60.3% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$32,728
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$20,874
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,521
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$20,874
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$54,521
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate60.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients28.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time92.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS82.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
82.1%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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
+$474k
+$77k
-$11k
Median Cost$21k/yr
+$399k
+$2k
-$86k
Full Cost$33k/yr
+$356k
-$41k
-$129k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$21k/yr
Never
-114%
Full Cost$33k/yr
Never
-109%
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-101%

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-81%
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
$19,000
Earnings (2yr)
$47,513
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$61,651
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$57,021
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,021
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$43,056
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$69,396
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (5yr)
$46,966
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$92,623
Lifetime Value Added
+$338k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$16,185
Earnings (5yr)
$64,541
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$22,958
Earnings (2yr)
$39,729
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k

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.