College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Virginia Union University

Richmond, VA 1,153 Undergrads 41.0% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$34,960
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$19,580
After Aid
Median Earnings
$38,275
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$19,580
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$38,275
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate41.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients56.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time89.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS46.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
97.7%
SAT Avg
860
SAT Reading
25th: 39042175th: 510
SAT Math
25th: 36040475th: 500
ACT Composite
25th: -1675th: -

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
+$341k
-$56k
-$144k
Median Cost$20k/yr
+$270k
-$126k
-$214k
Full Cost$35k/yr
+$215k
-$181k
-$269k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$20k/yr
Never
-304%
Full Cost$35k/yr
Never
-214%
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-278%

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-123%
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)
$40,450
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (5yr)
$43,899
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$28,749
Earnings (5yr)
$42,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$29,400
Earnings (5yr)
$31,507
Lifetime Value Added
-$265k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$26,505
Earnings (5yr)
$47,180
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$30,200
Earnings (5yr)
$48,498
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations
BachCIP: 5218
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$28,212
Lifetime Value Added
-$279k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,964
Lifetime Value Added
-$336k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$36,236
Lifetime Value Added
-$225k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$226k

Professional Degrees

Theological and Ministerial Studies
ProfCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,255
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k

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.