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University of Wisconsin-River Falls
River Falls, WI 4,152 Undergrads 60.3% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$19,576
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$14,714
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,458
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$14,714
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$54,458
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate60.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients23.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time92.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS80.6%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
81.6%
SAT Avg
1,120
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: 192275th: 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
+$473k
+$77k
-$11k
Median Cost$15k/yr
+$420k
+$24k
-$64k
Full Cost$20k/yr
+$403k
+$6k
-$82k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$15k/yr
Never
-121%
Full Cost$20k/yr
Never
-116%
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-102%
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-69%
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
$15,200
Earnings (5yr)
$78,142
Lifetime Value Added
+$127k
Agricultural Business and Management
BachCIP: 0101
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$51,617
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Agricultural Engineering
BachCIP: 1403
Median Debt
$22,735
Earnings (5yr)
$66,809
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
Agriculture, General
BachCIP: 0100
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$209k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$21,224
Earnings (5yr)
$51,398
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$52,212
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$65,260
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Business/Corporate Communications
BachCIP: 5205
Median Debt
$17,594
Earnings (5yr)
$58,107
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,557
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$51,308
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$54,820
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Computer Systems Analysis
BachCIP: 1105
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (5yr)
$85,427
Lifetime Value Added
+$182k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$248k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,384
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$49,938
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$26,414
Earnings (5yr)
$37,902
Lifetime Value Added
-$193k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$196k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,141
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,750
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$34,704
Lifetime Value Added
-$202k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$53,208
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$53,374
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$46,229
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$22,632
Earnings (5yr)
$54,835
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,595
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$22,828
Earnings (5yr)
$44,667
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$23,177
Earnings (5yr)
$52,202
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Master's Degrees
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$101,619
Lifetime Value Added
+$426k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$33,493
Earnings (5yr)
$63,825
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$60,856
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$75,778
Lifetime Value Added
+$204k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (2yr)
$43,426
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$35,952
Earnings (5yr)
$64,720
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$31,343
Earnings (5yr)
$57,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
Graduate Certificates
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
Gr-CertCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
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.