College ROI

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University of South Dakota

Vermillion, SD 5,439 Undergrads 54.7% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$25,752
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$20,028
After Aid
Median Earnings
$62,821
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$20,028
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$62,821
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$58,316
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate54.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)21.7
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients26.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time87.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS76.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
98.8%
SAT Avg
1,125
SAT Reading
25th: 53057075th: 620
SAT Math
25th: 59563575th: 695
ACT Composite
25th: 192275th: 25

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
+$551k
+$81k
+$65k
Median Cost$20k/yr
+$479k
+$9k
-$7k
Full Cost$26k/yr
+$459k
-$11k
-$28k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
36
∞
Median Cost$20k/yr
Never
-10%
Full Cost$26k/yr
Never
-30%
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 Return41%

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-41%

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 →

Associate's Degrees

Biology, General
AssocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,758
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,768
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$19,096
Earnings (4yr)
$71,179
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
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Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$19,227
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$364k
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Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,099
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
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Median Debt
$21,625
Earnings (4yr)
$64,890
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$52,100
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
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Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$64,069
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$62,012
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
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Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,046
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
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Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$68,556
Natl Median: $68,061
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,730
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$313k
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Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$71,463
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$71k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$31,155
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$265k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$70,100
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
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Median Debt
$24,750
Earnings (4yr)
$43,945
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,816
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
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Median Debt
$20,470
Earnings (4yr)
$61,518
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,096
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$320k
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Median Debt
$23,442
Earnings (4yr)
$50,306
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$22,852
Earnings (4yr)
$55,261
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (4yr)
$52,211
Natl Median: $52,119
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$61,362
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,400
Earnings (4yr)
$50,993
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
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Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$73,025
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$27,476
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$288k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,415
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,887
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$46,034
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,270
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
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Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$15,019
Earnings (4yr)
$85,964
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
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Median Debt
$108,184
Earnings (4yr)
$123,612
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$410k
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Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,927
Earnings (4yr)
$109,366
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$286k
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Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,716
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,931
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,118
Earnings (4yr)
$72,032
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$86,703
Natl Median: $57,050
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
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Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,591
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
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Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
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 (4yr)
$87,275
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
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Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$43,798
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$288k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,349
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k
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Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities
Gr-CertCIP: 5132
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,957
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: $131,848
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,031
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$105,958
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,831
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,755
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,908
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$105,198
Earnings (4yr)
$70,000
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$201k
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Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$83,195
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
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Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$126,911
Natl Median: $112,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$221k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,528
Natl Median: $81,641
Lifetime Value Added
-$182k
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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.