College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Washburn University

Topeka, KS 4,093 Undergrads 57.0% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$20,949
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,046
After Aid
Median Earnings
$49,774
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$13,046
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$49,774
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate57.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients36.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time82.4%
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

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
+$435k
+$39k
-$49k
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$389k
-$8k
-$96k
Full Cost$21k/yr
+$360k
-$36k
-$124k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$13k/yr
Never
-204%
Full Cost$21k/yr
Never
-165%
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-188%

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-92%
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

Certificates

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
CertCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$9,500
Earnings (5yr)
$67,914
Lifetime Value Added
+$250k
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
CertCIP: 1109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,982
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
CertCIP: 4603
Median Debt
$5,500
Earnings (5yr)
$52,965
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
Ground Transportation
CertCIP: 4902
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
CertCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$34,027
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies
CertCIP: 4703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,738
Lifetime Value Added
+$229k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$30,974
Earnings (5yr)
$45,470
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
$9,750
Earnings (5yr)
$51,058
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
$8,250
Earnings (5yr)
$42,628
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$5,500
Earnings (5yr)
$48,275
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k

Associate's Degrees

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$16,384
Earnings (5yr)
$50,195
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (5yr)
$65,456
Lifetime Value Added
+$159k

Bachelor's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$18,912
Earnings (5yr)
$66,605
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$18,622
Earnings (5yr)
$60,821
Lifetime Value Added
+$1k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,173
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$64,538
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$19,616
Earnings (5yr)
$49,261
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$64,493
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$18,375
Earnings (5yr)
$49,044
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Engineering-Related Fields
BachCIP: 1515
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,087
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$22,787
Earnings (5yr)
$38,832
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$21,136
Earnings (5yr)
$67,917
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$21,725
Earnings (5yr)
$53,065
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$48,649
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,542
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Legal Support Services
BachCIP: 2203
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,823
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (5yr)
$61,715
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$30,974
Earnings (5yr)
$42,037
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$24,075
Earnings (5yr)
$44,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$22,062
Earnings (5yr)
$74,200
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$23,873
Earnings (5yr)
$47,831
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$20,349
Earnings (5yr)
$47,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k

Master's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$62,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$26,200
Earnings (2yr)
$71,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$204k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,009
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$139,236
Lifetime Value Added
+$750k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$35,756
Earnings (5yr)
$57,557
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$77,330
Earnings (5yr)
$75,098
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k

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.