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Utah State University
Logan, UT 20,342 Undergrads 56.1% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$21,050
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,869
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,022
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$12,869
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$54,022
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate56.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients31.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time81.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS69.5%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
93.6%
SAT Avg
1,189
SAT Reading
25th: 53060575th: 660
SAT Math
25th: 53059075th: 640
ACT Composite
25th: 202575th: 28
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
+$470k
+$73k
-$15k
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$423k
+$27k
-$61k
Full Cost$21k/yr
+$394k
-$3k
-$90k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$13k/yr
Never
-132%
Full Cost$21k/yr
Never
-119%
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-110%
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-73%
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
Associate's Degrees
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$9,775
Earnings (5yr)
$40,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$13,135
Earnings (5yr)
$71,930
Lifetime Value Added
+$217k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (5yr)
$84,245
Lifetime Value Added
+$179k
Agricultural Business and Management
BachCIP: 0101
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (5yr)
$66,583
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Agricultural Production Operations
BachCIP: 0103
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,909
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Air Transportation
BachCIP: 4901
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (2yr)
$35,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$15,549
Earnings (5yr)
$64,644
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (5yr)
$30,720
Lifetime Value Added
-$248k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$52,356
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$40,368
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Biological/Biosystems Engineering
BachCIP: 1445
Median Debt
$12,946
Earnings (5yr)
$73,007
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$16,125
Earnings (5yr)
$71,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (5yr)
$74,645
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (5yr)
$86,663
Lifetime Value Added
+$197k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$12,647
Earnings (5yr)
$59,735
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (5yr)
$105,434
Lifetime Value Added
+$338k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$71,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$113k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$20,542
Lifetime Value Added
-$336k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$16,250
Earnings (5yr)
$39,901
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$13,245
Earnings (5yr)
$88,162
Lifetime Value Added
+$209k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$13,887
Earnings (5yr)
$98,046
Lifetime Value Added
+$283k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,621
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Environmental Design
BachCIP: 0404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,848
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$9,720
Earnings (5yr)
$84,357
Lifetime Value Added
+$180k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$17,125
Earnings (5yr)
$40,297
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1905
Median Debt
$9,091
Earnings (5yr)
$46,975
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$20,484
Earnings (5yr)
$44,129
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$16,460
Earnings (5yr)
$33,968
Lifetime Value Added
-$220k
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$13,500
Earnings (5yr)
$100,906
Lifetime Value Added
+$304k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
$14,864
Earnings (2yr)
$44,835
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$16,932
Earnings (5yr)
$55,166
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Landscape Architecture
BachCIP: 0406
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,469
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$49,791
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$13,750
Earnings (5yr)
$77,882
Lifetime Value Added
+$132k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,942
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$13,102
Earnings (5yr)
$87,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$203k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (5yr)
$44,439
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$11,610
Earnings (5yr)
$37,305
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies
BachCIP: 3101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,421
Lifetime Value Added
-$289k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,353
Lifetime Value Added
-$272k
Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,237
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$18,241
Earnings (5yr)
$59,177
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$17,976
Earnings (5yr)
$55,422
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$77,541
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$202k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,865
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$66,385
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (5yr)
$44,469
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$15,666
Earnings (5yr)
$40,750
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$11,250
Earnings (5yr)
$54,315
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$15,750
Earnings (5yr)
$49,585
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$14,753
Earnings (5yr)
$60,160
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
BachCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,439
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management
BachCIP: 0306
Median Debt
$19,133
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$241k
Zoology/Animal Biology
BachCIP: 2607
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,309
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$19,269
Earnings (5yr)
$97,522
Lifetime Value Added
+$394k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$30,700
Earnings (5yr)
$99,511
Lifetime Value Added
+$412k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$89,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$328k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$57,081
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Educational/Instructional Media Design
MastCIP: 1305
Median Debt
$23,965
Earnings (5yr)
$74,277
Lifetime Value Added
+$195k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
MastCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$108,207
Lifetime Value Added
+$486k
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$38,120
Earnings (5yr)
$106,456
Lifetime Value Added
+$471k
Information Science/Studies
MastCIP: 1104
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$83,007
Lifetime Value Added
+$270k
Mechanical Engineering
MastCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$74,576
Lifetime Value Added
+$237k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,934
Earnings (5yr)
$65,454
Lifetime Value Added
+$118k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,671
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$53,273
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$65,776
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$62,292
Lifetime Value Added
+$90k
Graduate Certificates
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
Gr-CertCIP: 5131
Median Debt
$11,711
Earnings (5yr)
$53,878
Lifetime Value Added
+$71k
Doctoral Degrees
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
DocCIP: 5102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$67,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Curriculum and Instruction
DocCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$87,754
Lifetime Value Added
+$200k
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.