College ROI

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University of the Cumberlands

Williamsburg, KY 6,941 Undergrads 52.8% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$28,711
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,885
After Aid
Median Earnings
$50,265
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$13,885
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$50,265
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$47,477
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate52.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)24.5
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients62.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time83.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS65.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
98.8%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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
+$450k
-$21k
-$37k
Median Cost$14k/yr
+$400k
-$71k
-$87k
Full Cost$29k/yr
+$346k
-$124k
-$140k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$14k/yr
Never
-174%
Full Cost$29k/yr
Never
-136%
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-144%

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-89%

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

Median Debt
$12,818
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,927
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,422
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
AssocCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,288
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$11,481
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$13,566
Earnings (4yr)
$59,702
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$290
Median Debt
$14,834
Earnings (4yr)
$59,760
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$184
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,699
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Median Debt
$15,512
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,819
Earnings (4yr)
$41,785
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,296
Earnings (4yr)
$37,823
Natl Median: $48,597
Lifetime Value Added
-$185k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,569
Earnings (4yr)
$45,061
Natl Median: $52,119
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (4yr)
$40,751
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Median Debt
$11,033
Earnings (4yr)
$94,183
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$266k
Religious Education
BachCIP: 3904
Median Debt
$18,934
Earnings (4yr)
$39,211
Natl Median: $43,633
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$17,080
Earnings (4yr)
$45,660
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Median Debt
$15,785
Earnings (4yr)
$40,093
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$140,192
Earnings (4yr)
$118,251
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$375k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,028
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,550
Earnings (4yr)
$76,452
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$9k
Median Debt
$45,305
Earnings (4yr)
$54,874
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$187k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,906
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$29,226
Earnings (5yr)
$69,825
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Median Debt
$17,792
Earnings (4yr)
$48,120
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$252k
Median Debt
$24,608
Earnings (4yr)
$61,352
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,149
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$31,044
Earnings (2yr)
$39,009
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$326k
Median Debt
$27,333
Earnings (4yr)
$52,175
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$213k
Median Debt
$29,632
Earnings (4yr)
$45,849
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$274k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$47,846
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$255k

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
$44,858
Earnings (4yr)
$98,100
Natl Median: $113,566
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Median Debt
$45,684
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$46,616
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $154,538
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$32,492
Earnings (4yr)
$92,853
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k

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.