College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Upper Iowa University

Fayette, IA 2,021 Undergrads 48.3% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$48,422
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$23,172
After Aid
Median Earnings
$52,766
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$23,172
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$52,766
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate48.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients36.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time57.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS78.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
93.4%
SAT Avg
929
SAT Reading
25th: 50049075th: 590
SAT Math
25th: 47047075th: 570
ACT Composite
25th: 142175th: 21

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
+$460k
+$63k
-$25k
Median Cost$23k/yr
+$376k
-$20k
-$108k
Full Cost$48k/yr
+$285k
-$111k
-$199k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$23k/yr
Never
-130%
Full Cost$48k/yr
Never
-114%
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-114%

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
$26,284
Earnings (5yr)
$58,713
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$26,250
Earnings (5yr)
$66,929
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$30,701
Earnings (5yr)
$46,898
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$17,586
Earnings (5yr)
$61,823
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$28,939
Earnings (5yr)
$56,757
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$53,352
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$29,125
Earnings (5yr)
$57,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Human Services, General
BachCIP: 4400
Median Debt
$28,337
Earnings (5yr)
$44,527
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,781
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (5yr)
$52,875
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (5yr)
$50,014
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Public Administration
BachCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$75,905
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$21,155
Earnings (5yr)
$78,287
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
Social Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4501
Median Debt
$23,274
Earnings (5yr)
$43,032
Lifetime Value Added
-$180k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$27,292
Earnings (5yr)
$46,694
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,825
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$39,872
Earnings (5yr)
$95,675
Lifetime Value Added
+$360k
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$48,284
Earnings (5yr)
$49,757
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$50,069
Earnings (5yr)
$71,926
Lifetime Value Added
+$155k

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.