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Washington State University
Pullman, WA 21,583 Undergrads 64.5% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$27,176
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$14,401
After Aid
Median Earnings
$68,905
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$14,401
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$68,905
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate64.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients26.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time89.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS79.2%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
85.4%
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
+$585k
+$188k
+$100k
Median Cost$14k/yr
+$533k
+$137k
+$49k
Full Cost$27k/yr
+$487k
+$91k
+$3k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
32
∞
Median Cost$14k/yr
42
94%
Full Cost$27k/yr
62
3%
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 Return102%
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-24%
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
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$77,091
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
Agricultural Production Operations
BachCIP: 0103
Median Debt
$17,395
Earnings (5yr)
$61,477
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$47,320
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (5yr)
$40,262
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k
Apparel and Textiles
BachCIP: 1909
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$57,364
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
$16,139
Earnings (5yr)
$70,386
Lifetime Value Added
+$70k
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,744
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$60,741
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Biological and Physical Sciences
BachCIP: 3001
Median Debt
$18,853
Earnings (5yr)
$68,997
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$18,647
Earnings (5yr)
$63,464
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
BachCIP: 1405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$95,879
Lifetime Value Added
+$261k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$19,443
Earnings (5yr)
$69,669
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$88,132
Lifetime Value Added
+$203k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$20,780
Earnings (5yr)
$89,281
Lifetime Value Added
+$212k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,822
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$60,325
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$19,902
Earnings (5yr)
$110,492
Lifetime Value Added
+$370k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$108,566
Lifetime Value Added
+$356k
Construction Management
BachCIP: 5220
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$107,912
Lifetime Value Added
+$351k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$19,538
Earnings (5yr)
$63,847
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$24,604
Earnings (5yr)
$61,992
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$90,097
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$18,546
Earnings (5yr)
$100,264
Lifetime Value Added
+$294k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (5yr)
$48,754
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
BachCIP: 5207
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$77,036
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$16,236
Lifetime Value Added
-$371k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$82,433
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$27,048
Lifetime Value Added
-$271k
Food Science and Technology
BachCIP: 0110
Median Debt
$13,750
Earnings (5yr)
$70,646
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k
Genetics
BachCIP: 2608
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$34,704
Lifetime Value Added
-$201k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$20,433
Earnings (5yr)
$65,534
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$64,225
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$22,266
Earnings (5yr)
$56,656
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$23,207
Earnings (5yr)
$55,920
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$22,978
Earnings (5yr)
$48,017
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
$16,819
Earnings (5yr)
$83,952
Lifetime Value Added
+$172k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$20,435
Earnings (5yr)
$46,521
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$22,175
Earnings (5yr)
$81,392
Lifetime Value Added
+$153k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$82,094
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$18,836
Earnings (5yr)
$92,146
Lifetime Value Added
+$233k
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
BachCIP: 2605
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (5yr)
$71,666
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$24,503
Earnings (2yr)
$34,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$201k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,084
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
BachCIP: 2615
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (5yr)
$59,721
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
$15,828
Earnings (2yr)
$56,415
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$21,150
Earnings (5yr)
$61,086
Lifetime Value Added
-$1k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,515
Earnings (5yr)
$56,856
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Public Policy Analysis
BachCIP: 4405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,659
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$19,365
Earnings (5yr)
$53,821
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$13,476
Earnings (5yr)
$84,931
Lifetime Value Added
+$179k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$66,735
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
Social Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4501
Median Debt
$21,551
Earnings (5yr)
$59,442
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$21,450
Earnings (5yr)
$50,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$20,819
Earnings (5yr)
$62,904
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$43,798
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management
BachCIP: 0306
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,543
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Zoology/Animal Biology
BachCIP: 2607
Median Debt
$17,625
Earnings (5yr)
$52,434
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$97,698
Lifetime Value Added
+$393k
Agriculture, General
MastCIP: 0100
Median Debt
$28,097
Earnings (2yr)
$40,485
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$71,116
Lifetime Value Added
+$165k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$53,547
Earnings (5yr)
$142,779
Lifetime Value Added
+$777k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$71,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$201k
Communication and Media Studies
MastCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$26,714
Earnings (5yr)
$74,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$193k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$43,945
Earnings (5yr)
$78,640
Lifetime Value Added
+$229k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$45,529
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$78,468
Lifetime Value Added
+$228k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$76,541
Lifetime Value Added
+$211k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$34,582
Earnings (5yr)
$115,096
Lifetime Value Added
+$542k
Engineering-Related Fields
MastCIP: 1515
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$156,036
Lifetime Value Added
+$890k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$206k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$91,062
Lifetime Value Added
+$336k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,633
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
Mechanical Engineering
MastCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$74,017
Lifetime Value Added
+$229k
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
MastCIP: 2609
Median Debt
$32,990
Earnings (5yr)
$62,486
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$138,196
Lifetime Value Added
+$738k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$32,657
Earnings (5yr)
$70,550
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
Doctoral Degrees
Anthropology
DocCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,198
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$163,998
Lifetime Value Added
+$707k
English Language and Literature, General
DocCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$64,792
Earnings (5yr)
$141,180
Lifetime Value Added
+$542k
Professional Degrees
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
ProfCIP: 5120
Median Debt
$137,435
Earnings (5yr)
$144,700
Lifetime Value Added
+$568k
Veterinary Medicine
ProfCIP: 0180
Median Debt
$108,355
Earnings (5yr)
$117,722
Lifetime Value Added
+$373k
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.