College ROI

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University of South Alabama

Mobile, AL 8,879 Undergrads 52.8% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$25,443
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,801
After Aid
Median Earnings
$59,167
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$16,801
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$59,167
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$53,069
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate52.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)21.9
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients43.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time87.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS68.2%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
71.0%
SAT Avg
1,147
SAT Reading
25th: 50056075th: 610
SAT Math
25th: 47055075th: 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)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$522k
+$52k
+$36k
Median Cost$17k/yr
+$462k
-$8k
-$25k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$431k
-$39k
-$56k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
41
∞
Median Cost$17k/yr
Never
-41%
Full Cost$25k/yr
Never
-61%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
  • 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-13%

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-55%

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 →

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (4yr)
$64,410
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
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Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$69,490
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
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Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$19,455
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$350k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,997
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$22,266
Earnings (4yr)
$54,090
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
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Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$48,021
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,513
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
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Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$93,943
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$254k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$23,125
Earnings (4yr)
$78,187
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$134k
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Median Debt
$22,384
Earnings (4yr)
$46,828
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
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Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,204
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
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Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (4yr)
$59,602
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$80,317
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$150k
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Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,822
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
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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
$21,624
Earnings (4yr)
$100,166
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$301k
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Median Debt
$23,555
Earnings (4yr)
$51,718
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
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Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$62,084
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$9k
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Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$29,506
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$268k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,279
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,632
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
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Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,019
Natl Median: $61,911
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$44,887
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
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Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (4yr)
$41,515
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,455
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
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International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,641
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
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Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,483
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
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Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$89,052
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$217k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,739
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$43,023
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$24,150
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,625
Earnings (4yr)
$46,912
Natl Median: $50,983
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
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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
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$56,255
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,268
Earnings (4yr)
$43,384
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
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Median Debt
$18,998
Earnings (4yr)
$78,024
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$132k
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Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$25,625
Earnings (4yr)
$46,667
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,623
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$178k
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Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,719
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
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Median Debt
$24,535
Earnings (4yr)
$48,956
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
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Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$48,602
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
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Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$64,990
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
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Median Debt
$117,000
Earnings (4yr)
$124,566
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$424k
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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
$39,343
Earnings (2yr)
$60,839
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
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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
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Median Debt
$47,000
Earnings (4yr)
$65,988
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$109,149
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$272k
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Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,851
Natl Median: $65,348
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,540
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
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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
$50,928
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$51,250
Earnings (4yr)
$122,851
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$409k
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Median Debt
$90,336
Earnings (4yr)
$73,218
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
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Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$46,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,379
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$43,929
Earnings (4yr)
$50,771
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$232k
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Median Debt
$35,743
Earnings (4yr)
$53,511
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$205k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,561
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
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Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$131,593
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
+$581k
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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
-
Earnings (4yr)
$94,463
Natl Median: $88,343
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
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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
+$43k
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Medicine
DocCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$201,012
Earnings (4yr)
$114,506
Natl Median: $118,504
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k
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Median Debt
$73,561
Earnings (4yr)
$137,559
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$311k
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Median Debt
$92,085
Earnings (4yr)
$81,627
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
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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.