College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Washburn University

Topeka, KS 4,562 Undergrads 56.6% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$21,099
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$11,023
After Aid
Median Earnings
$57,938
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$11,023
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$57,938
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$53,102
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate56.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)24.2
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients42.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time83.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.3%

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)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$512k
+$42k
+$26k
Median Cost$11k/yr
+$473k
+$3k
-$14k
Full Cost$21k/yr
+$436k
-$34k
-$50k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
44
∞
Median Cost$11k/yr
Never
-35%
Full Cost$21k/yr
Never
-66%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
  • 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-18%

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-51%

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 →

Certificates

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
CertCIP: 5109

Earnings shared by 2 campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$9,500
Earnings (4yr)
$67,652
Natl Median: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
+$265k
Try this program with your own numbers →
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
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
CertCIP: 1109

Earnings shared by 2 campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,325
Natl Median: $50,162
Lifetime Value Added
+$189k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
CertCIP: 1204

Earnings shared by 2 campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$27,536
Natl Median: $26,307
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
Try this program with your own numbers →
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
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
CertCIP: 4603

Earnings shared by 2 campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,627
Natl Median: $53,078
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $52,118
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $27,180
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,148
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4703

Earnings shared by 2 campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,991
Natl Median: $62,199
Lifetime Value Added
+$198k
Try this program with your own numbers →
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
$25,236
Earnings (4yr)
$50,120
Natl Median: $43,365
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139

Earnings shared by 2 campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$9,875
Earnings (4yr)
$48,940
Natl Median: $56,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$71k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805

Earnings shared by 2 campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$38,331
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706

Earnings shared by 2 campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,667
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Woodworking
CertCIP: 4807
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,664
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
$14,500
Earnings (4yr)
$49,652
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$14,667
Earnings (4yr)
$73,676
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$252k
Try this program with your own numbers →
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
$15,135
Earnings (4yr)
$49,129
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,120
Natl Median: $53,607
Lifetime Value Added
+$183k
Try this program with your own numbers →
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
$21,450
Earnings (4yr)
$66,900
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$17,586
Earnings (4yr)
$75,787
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$136k
Try this program with your own numbers →
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
-$8k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$22,875
Earnings (4yr)
$68,154
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Try this program with your own numbers →
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
$21,375
Earnings (4yr)
$46,497
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$78,778
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$159k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$27,625
Earnings (4yr)
$53,587
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Try this program with your own numbers →
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
+$172k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$32,760
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$219k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,875
Earnings (4yr)
$76,175
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$139k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$29,659
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$246k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$66,325
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Try this program with your own numbers →
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$39,371
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,644
Natl Median: $53,266
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$65,379
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,991
Earnings (4yr)
$48,327
Natl Median: $52,119
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,783
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 (5yr)
$54,130
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$24,875
Earnings (4yr)
$49,251
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,437
Earnings (4yr)
$79,109
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$162k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$44,534
Natl Median: $57,805
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,122
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Try this program with your own numbers →
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
$23,750
Earnings (4yr)
$57,079
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$21,875
Earnings (4yr)
$43,351
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$47,948
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Try this program with your own numbers →

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$62,012
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$97,747
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$201k
Try this program with your own numbers →
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
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,153
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,009
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$321k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,125
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$118,704
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$364k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$37,496
Earnings (4yr)
$59,993
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
Try this program with your own numbers →
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
$30,183
Earnings (4yr)
$143,374
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
+$721k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
$56,528
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$73,142
Earnings (4yr)
$83,608
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Try this program with your own numbers →

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.