College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Virginia Wesleyan University

Virginia Beach, VA 1,243 Undergrads 51.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$51,192
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$20,583
After Aid
Median Earnings
$50,074
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$20,583
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$50,074
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate51.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients34.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time92.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS67.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
71.3%
SAT Avg
1,281
SAT Reading
25th: 56063575th: 670
SAT Math
25th: 58063075th: 680
ACT Composite
25th: 282975th: 29

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
+$438k
+$41k
-$46k
Median Cost$21k/yr
+$364k
-$33k
-$121k
Full Cost$51k/yr
+$254k
-$143k
-$231k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$21k/yr
Never
-163%
Full Cost$51k/yr
Never
-125%
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-134%

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-96%
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

Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$56,522
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,057
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,949
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,388
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$19,227
Lifetime Value Added
-$365k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,781
Lifetime Value Added
-$342k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,432
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (5yr)
$49,588
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies
BachCIP: 3101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,309
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,575
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$42,412
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,508
Lifetime Value Added
-$344k

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.