College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Webster University

Saint Louis, MO 2,304 Undergrads 55.4% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$50,816
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$26,955
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,080
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$26,955
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$54,080
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$56,096
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate55.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)24.5
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients29.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time85.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS63.2%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
86.2%
SAT Avg
1,102
SAT Reading
25th: 58063075th: 660
SAT Math
25th: 53058075th: 650
ACT Composite
25th: 182175th: 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)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$481k
+$11k
-$5k
Median Cost$27k/yr
+$384k
-$86k
-$102k
Full Cost$51k/yr
+$298k
-$172k
-$188k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$27k/yr
Never
-106%
Full Cost$51k/yr
Never
-103%
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-96%

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-87%

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

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 (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,747
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
-$2k
Try this program with your own numbers →
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
Try this program with your own numbers →
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$24,750
Earnings (4yr)
$56,671
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$62,567
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,012
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Try this program with your own numbers →
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
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$66,113
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Try this program with your own numbers →
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
-$334k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$24,843
Earnings (4yr)
$40,397
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$210k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (4yr)
$39,604
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$217k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (4yr)
$45,411
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,459
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$35,407
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$253k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$22,750
Earnings (5yr)
$37,871
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$238k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$40,168
Natl Median: $43,283
Lifetime Value Added
-$212k
Try this program with your own numbers →
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
Try this program with your own numbers →
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)
$36,167
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$253k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Non-Professional Legal Studies
BachCIP: 2200
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,789
Natl Median: $61,959
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
Try this program with your own numbers →
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
Try this program with your own numbers →
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (4yr)
$48,689
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,217
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,208
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$224k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$79,081
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$128k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
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: $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
+$62k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$43,796
Earnings (4yr)
$90,950
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$58,628
Earnings (4yr)
$54,077
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$219k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,188
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$104,445
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
+$231k
Try this program with your own numbers →
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
Try this program with your own numbers →
Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,348
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,848
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$97,110
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
+$166k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Gerontology
MastCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,380
Natl Median: $67,618
Lifetime Value Added
-$283k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$79,567
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$95,092
Natl Median: $95,461
Lifetime Value Added
+$149k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$45,587
Earnings (4yr)
$69,011
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$45,486
Earnings (4yr)
$59,247
Natl Median: $57,050
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$113,359
Natl Median: $107,835
Lifetime Value Added
+$308k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$88,756
Natl Median: $95,627
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$80,147
Natl Median: $106,092
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,060
Natl Median: $79,106
Lifetime Value Added
-$391k
Try this program with your own numbers →
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
+$101k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Non-Professional Legal Studies
MastCIP: 2200
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,205
Natl Median: $65,153
Lifetime Value Added
-$328k
Try this program with your own numbers →
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
$56,894
Earnings (4yr)
$67,174
Natl Median: $80,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$201,294
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$1066k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$43,798
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$301k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,914
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$382k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,217
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,080
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Try this program with your own numbers →

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$85,101
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
+$157k
Try this program with your own numbers →
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
$56,194
Earnings (4yr)
$106,577
Natl Median: $107,274
Lifetime Value Added
+$361k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,457
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Legal Support Services
Gr-CertCIP: 2203
Median Debt
$40,750
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $69,929
Lifetime Value Added
-$298k
Try this program with your own numbers →
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: $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

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.