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Valdosta State University
Valdosta, GA 6,622 Undergrads 46.8% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$21,232
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$10,804
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,207
5yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$10,804
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$54,207Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$52,334Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate46.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average starting age (2015-17)22.3
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients57.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time79.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS65.4%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
72.3%
SAT Avg
1,013
SAT Reading
25th: 48052075th: 570
SAT Math
25th: 44049075th: 530
ACT Composite
25th: 161975th: 22
ROI Sensitivity AnalysisAssuming 4 Years to Graduation
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
+$482k
+$12k
-$4k
Median Cost$11k/yr
+$443k
-$27k
-$43k
Full Cost$21k/yr
+$406k
-$65k
-$81k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$11k/yr
Never
-111%
Full Cost$21k/yr
Never
-106%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
- 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-87%
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%
Program ROI Analysis
These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →
Associate's Degrees
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $61,982
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$60,751
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
American Sign Language
BachCIP: 1616
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,516
Natl Median: $45,044
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$51,991
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$23,869
Earnings (4yr)
$56,047
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
BachCIP: 5204
Median Debt
$25,991
Earnings (4yr)
$60,715
Natl Median: $28,311
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Business/Managerial Economics
BachCIP: 5206
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,420
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$182k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,880
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,426
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$21,406
Earnings (4yr)
$75,310
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$133k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$46,593
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$17,624
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
-$346k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$15,552
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$365k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$30,000
Earnings (4yr)
$41,622
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$68,453
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$26,402
Earnings (4yr)
$31,539
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$229k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,281
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,595
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$71,257
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
$16,000
Earnings (4yr)
$63,072
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Legal Support Services
BachCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,266
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,256
Earnings (4yr)
$40,044
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$22,563
Earnings (4yr)
$59,865
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$27,002
Earnings (4yr)
$27,357
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$266k
Philosophy and Religious Studies, General
BachCIP: 3800
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,213
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$20,375
Earnings (4yr)
$47,035
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,888
Earnings (4yr)
$47,285
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$77,890
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$153k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology and Anthropology
BachCIP: 4513
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$41,619
Natl Median: $46,959
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,677
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,630
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$46,155
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Median Debt
$18,125
Earnings (4yr)
$51,863
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$86,927
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$84,918
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
Communication and Media Studies
MastCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$35,876
Earnings (4yr)
$56,636
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$81,195
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
Educational/Instructional Media Design
MastCIP: 1305
Median Debt
$26,376
Earnings (4yr)
$71,246
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Library Science and Administration
MastCIP: 2501
Median Debt
$22,483
Earnings (4yr)
$53,915
Natl Median: $56,301
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,995
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$219k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,472
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$29,802
Earnings (4yr)
$68,427
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Median Debt
$33,900
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$30,752
Earnings (4yr)
$63,609
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$23,518
Earnings (4yr)
$63,814
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$35,876
Earnings (4yr)
$71,449
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Median Debt
$22,780
Earnings (4yr)
$62,044
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$76,119
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Graduate Certificates
Educational Administration and Supervision
Gr-CertCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$64,245
Natl Median: $88,001
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Educational/Instructional Media Design
Gr-CertCIP: 1305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$61,814
Natl Median: $75,166
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$59,858
Natl Median: $59,858
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Doctoral Degrees
Curriculum and Instruction
DocCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,031
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Administration
DocCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,464
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), 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 decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.
Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.