College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of Wisconsin-Superior

Superior, WI 1,899 Undergrads 48.8% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$18,415
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,405
After Aid
Median Earnings
$49,606
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$13,405
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$49,606
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate48.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients33.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time79.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS73.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
93.6%
SAT Avg
1,050
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: 182175th: 24

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
+$434k
+$38k
-$50k
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$386k
-$11k
-$99k
Full Cost$18k/yr
+$368k
-$29k
-$117k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$13k/yr
Never
-204%
Full Cost$18k/yr
Never
-176%
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-203%

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-91%
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
-
Earnings (5yr)
$84,862
Lifetime Value Added
+$182k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,740
Earnings (5yr)
$45,344
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$19,333
Earnings (5yr)
$53,947
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$48,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (2yr)
$37,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$295k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$204k
Legal Professions and Studies, Other
BachCIP: 2299
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,967
Lifetime Value Added
-$277k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$22,036
Earnings (5yr)
$46,724
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
BachCIP: 2609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,127
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,582
Earnings (2yr)
$30,771
Lifetime Value Added
-$233k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
BachCIP: 5123
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$19,227
Lifetime Value Added
-$339k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$23,611
Earnings (5yr)
$50,212
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$42,080
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$27,786
Earnings (5yr)
$46,591
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$204k
Transportation and Materials Moving, Other
BachCIP: 4999
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$63,005
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k

Master's Degrees

Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$41,481
Earnings (5yr)
$57,218
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k

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.