College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of Wisconsin-Parkside

Kenosha, WI 2,951 Undergrads 42.9% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$16,768
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$10,044
After Aid
Median Earnings
$51,129
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$10,044
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$51,129
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate42.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients36.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time82.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS69.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
72.6%
SAT Avg
1,090
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: 182175th: 25

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
+$446k
+$50k
-$38k
Median Cost$10k/yr
+$410k
+$14k
-$74k
Full Cost$17k/yr
+$386k
-$10k
-$98k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$10k/yr
Never
-205%
Full Cost$17k/yr
Never
-163%
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-179%

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-82%
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
$14,915
Earnings (5yr)
$70,307
Lifetime Value Added
+$85k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$18,068
Earnings (5yr)
$66,590
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$21,987
Earnings (5yr)
$43,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (2yr)
$56,641
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$50,384
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$20,625
Earnings (5yr)
$70,830
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$18,649
Earnings (5yr)
$55,403
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,166
Earnings (2yr)
$28,236
Lifetime Value Added
-$244k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (5yr)
$38,842
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k

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.