College ROI

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Washburn University

Topeka, KS 4,562 Undergrads 59.7% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$21,512
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$15,280
After Aid
Median Earnings
$56,774
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$15,280
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$56,774
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$49,774
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate59.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age24.2
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients38.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time83.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS71.7%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$510k
+$43k
+$25k
Median Cost$15k/yr
+$455k
-$12k
-$30k
Full Cost$22k/yr
+$432k
-$35k
-$52k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
44
∞
Median Cost$15k/yr
Never
-54%
Full Cost$22k/yr
Never
-67%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-20%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-51%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Certificates

Median Debt
$9,500
Earnings (4yr)
$67,652
Natl Median: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
+$259k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,681
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Carpenters
CertCIP: 4602
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,835
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $38,675
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,982
Natl Median: $50,162
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Median Debt
$6,792
Earnings (4yr)
$27,536
Natl Median: $26,307
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $30,572
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,116
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$5,500
Earnings (5yr)
$52,965
Natl Median: $53,078
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $52,118
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $27,180
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$34,027
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,148
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,991
Natl Median: $62,199
Lifetime Value Added
+$192k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,396
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $31,135
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,294
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,747
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,974
Earnings (4yr)
$50,120
Natl Median: $43,365
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
Median Debt
$9,750
Earnings (4yr)
$48,940
Natl Median: $56,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Median Debt
$8,250
Earnings (4yr)
$38,331
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$5,500
Earnings (4yr)
$44,667
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Woodworking
CertCIP: 4807
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,664
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
$16,384
Earnings (4yr)
$49,652
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$73,676
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$241k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,587
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,246
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,605
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $38,127
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (4yr)
$49,129
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,120
Natl Median: $53,607
Lifetime Value Added
+$173k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,734
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Natural Sciences
AssocCIP: 3018
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,630
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$18,912
Earnings (4yr)
$66,900
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Median Debt
$18,622
Earnings (4yr)
$75,787
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$119k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,551
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$68,154
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,616
Earnings (4yr)
$46,497
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$78,778
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k
Median Debt
$18,375
Earnings (4yr)
$53,587
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$80,436
Natl Median: $89,619
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
Median Debt
$22,787
Earnings (4yr)
$32,760
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$234k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,136
Earnings (4yr)
$76,175
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$29,659
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$261k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,725
Earnings (4yr)
$66,325
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,542
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,823
Natl Median: $53,266
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (4yr)
$65,379
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,974
Earnings (4yr)
$48,327
Natl Median: $52,119
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$24,075
Earnings (4yr)
$49,251
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,062
Earnings (4yr)
$79,109
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$144k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (4yr)
$44,534
Natl Median: $57,805
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$23,873
Earnings (4yr)
$50,122
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,079
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Median Debt
$20,349
Earnings (4yr)
$43,351
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,948
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$62,012
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Median Debt
$26,200
Earnings (4yr)
$97,747
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$192k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,009
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$327k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,125
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$139,236
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$529k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$35,756
Earnings (4yr)
$59,993
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
$39,292
Earnings (4yr)
$143,374
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
+$716k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
$60,268
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$77,330
Earnings (4yr)
$83,608
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k

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.