College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

University of South Alabama

Mobile, AL 8,879 Undergrads 49.6% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$25,476
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$17,648
After Aid
Median Earnings
$62,459
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$17,648
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$62,459
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Warning: This school's reported earnings inflated significantly (+26%) when the Dept of Education excluded non-graduates from the dataset. Take caution when comparing.
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$49,379
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate49.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age21.9
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients38.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time87.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS69.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
71.0%
SAT Avg
1,147
SAT Reading
25th: 50055575th: 610
SAT Math
25th: 47054575th: 580
ACT Composite
25th: 202375th: 26

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
+$555k
+$88k
+$71k
Median Cost$18k/yr
+$492k
+$25k
+$7k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$464k
-$3k
-$21k

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$18k/yr
58
12%
Full Cost$25k/yr
Never
-23%
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 Return57%

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-35%
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.

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$26,036
Earnings (4yr)
$64,410
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$69,490
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$19,455
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$352k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,997
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,090
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (4yr)
$48,021
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Median Debt
$29,363
Earnings (4yr)
$59,513
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Median Debt
$20,116
Earnings (4yr)
$93,943
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$249k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$26,366
Earnings (4yr)
$78,187
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
Median Debt
$24,870
Earnings (4yr)
$46,828
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
Median Debt
$21,999
Earnings (4yr)
$54,204
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Median Debt
$26,328
Earnings (4yr)
$59,602
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$25,750
Earnings (4yr)
$80,317
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$145k
Median Debt
$25,750
Earnings (4yr)
$50,822
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, Other
BachCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,113
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$100,166
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$296k
Median Debt
$21,201
Earnings (4yr)
$51,718
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$62,084
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Median Debt
$30,066
Earnings (4yr)
$29,506
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$271k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,632
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
+$858
Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,019
Natl Median: $61,911
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$44,887
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
Median Debt
$18,125
Earnings (4yr)
$41,515
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (4yr)
$64,455
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$40,641
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$24,974
Earnings (4yr)
$50,483
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$89,052
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$211k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,739
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,419
Earnings (4yr)
$43,023
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$22,625
Earnings (5yr)
$37,262
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$209k
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$46,912
Natl Median: $50,983
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
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
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,967
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$292k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$23,561
Earnings (4yr)
$43,384
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$78,024
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$127k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$28,500
Earnings (4yr)
$46,667
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
$22,532
Earnings (4yr)
$62,719
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
+$9k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$48,956
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$48,602
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$64,990
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Median Debt
$97,225
Earnings (4yr)
$124,566
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$422k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,371
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$114,610
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$316k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,468
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$339k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$65,988
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$83,267
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Natl Median: $65,348
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,540
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
MastCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,563
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,305
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 (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$51,673
Earnings (4yr)
$122,851
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$407k
Median Debt
$62,988
Earnings (4yr)
$73,218
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,379
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$42,799
Earnings (4yr)
$50,771
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$232k
Median Debt
$34,535
Earnings (4yr)
$53,511
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$206k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,561
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$141,035
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
+$666k

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,096
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,653
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $113,566
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$80,320
Earnings (4yr)
$94,463
Natl Median: $88,343
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $154,538
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, Other
DocCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,635
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$101,194
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Medicine
DocCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$175,334
Earnings (4yr)
$114,506
Natl Median: $118,504
Lifetime Value Added
+$138k
Median Debt
$71,336
Earnings (4yr)
$137,559
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$308k
Median Debt
$77,490
Earnings (4yr)
$81,627
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $162,438
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

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.