College ROI

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Webster University

Saint Louis, MO 2,304 Undergrads 54.6% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$51,188
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$27,047
After Aid
Median Earnings
$75,697
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$27,047
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$75,697
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Warning: This school's reported earnings inflated significantly (+49%) when the Dept of Education excluded non-graduates from the dataset. Take caution when comparing.
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$50,876
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate54.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age24.5
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 Recipients28.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time85.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS65.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
86.2%
SAT Avg
1,102
SAT Reading
25th: 58058275th: 660
SAT Math
25th: 53056075th: 650
ACT Composite
25th: 182475th: 25

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
+$657k
+$191k
+$173k
Median Cost$27k/yr
+$560k
+$93k
+$76k
Full Cost$51k/yr
+$473k
+$6k
-$11k

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
29
∞
Median Cost$27k/yr
40
78%
Full Cost$51k/yr
Never
-6%
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 Return81%

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-38%
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,400
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,116
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,211
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,065
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,130
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
CertCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,099
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
CertCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,137
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,608
Natl Median: $49,747
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $28,967
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,242
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
CertCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,871
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,385
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,696
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,389
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,074
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,359
Natl Median: $44,889
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,671
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Median Debt
$22,950
Earnings (4yr)
$62,567
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$45,012
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,384
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,113
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
-$333k
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$40,397
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$210k
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$39,604
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$217k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$24,714
Earnings (4yr)
$45,411
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$36,990
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$245k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,475
Earnings (4yr)
$35,407
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$253k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$292k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,168
Natl Median: $43,283
Lifetime Value Added
-$212k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,402
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,409
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$286k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,839
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$27,519
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$327k
Non-Professional Legal Studies
BachCIP: 2200
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,982
Natl Median: $61,959
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,931
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$281k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$48,689
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,217
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,208
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$224k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$79,081
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,629
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$85,203
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Median Debt
$50,555
Earnings (4yr)
$90,950
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$61,283
Earnings (4yr)
$54,077
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$218k
Median Debt
$48,635
Earnings (4yr)
$65,188
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Median Debt
$36,427
Earnings (4yr)
$104,445
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
+$229k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,775
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,348
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,357
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$161k
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (4yr)
$97,110
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
+$165k
Gerontology
MastCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$40,294
Earnings (4yr)
$79,567
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$95,092
Natl Median: $95,461
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
Median Debt
$54,686
Earnings (4yr)
$69,011
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Median Debt
$53,984
Earnings (4yr)
$59,247
Natl Median: $57,050
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
Median Debt
$34,926
Earnings (4yr)
$113,359
Natl Median: $107,835
Lifetime Value Added
+$307k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$88,756
Natl Median: $95,627
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$102,692
Natl Median: $106,092
Lifetime Value Added
+$196k
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,060
Natl Median: $79,106
Lifetime Value Added
-$389k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$89,701
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
Non-Professional Legal Studies
MastCIP: 2200
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,150
Natl Median: $65,153
Lifetime Value Added
-$208k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$59,664
Earnings (4yr)
$67,174
Natl Median: $80,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$177,721
Earnings (4yr)
$201,294
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$1066k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$43,798
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$300k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,758
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$278k
Median Debt
$19,696
Earnings (4yr)
$64,217
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,080
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
$48,869
Earnings (4yr)
$85,101
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
+$155k
Economics
Gr-CertCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $118,588
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, Other
Gr-CertCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,921
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,077
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,166
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Gerontology
Gr-CertCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,464
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$38,744
Earnings (4yr)
$106,577
Natl Median: $107,274
Lifetime Value Added
+$359k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,457
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Legal Support Services
Gr-CertCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $69,929
Lifetime Value Added
-$296k
Marketing
Gr-CertCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,837
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,147
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,178
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Education, Other
DocCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,635
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,514
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,026
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

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.