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West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester, PA 14,164 Undergrads 73.2% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$30,531
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$24,778
After Aid
Median Earnings
$66,149
5yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$24,778
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$66,149Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$66,629Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate73.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)21.3
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients28.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time91.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS80.2%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
78.4%
SAT Avg
1,187
SAT Reading
25th: 56060075th: 650
SAT Math
25th: 54058075th: 620
ACT Composite
25th: 242775th: 28
ROI Sensitivity AnalysisAssuming 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
+$578k
+$107k
+$91k
Median Cost$25k/yr
+$488k
+$18k
+$2k
Full Cost$31k/yr
+$468k
-$2k
-$19k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
33
∞
Median Cost$25k/yr
63
2%
Full Cost$31k/yr
Never
-17%
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 Return62%
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-39%
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
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
CertCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,696
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$95,189
Natl Median: $71,848
Lifetime Value Added
+$220k
Median Debt
$20,694
Earnings (5yr)
$62,486
Natl Median: $66,017
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,964
Natl Median: $44,283
Lifetime Value Added
-$356k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$71,059
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$71,562
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Business/Managerial Economics
BachCIP: 5206
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$77,951
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$24,020
Earnings (2yr)
$48,432
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$68,227
Natl Median: $58,406
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$99,585
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$253k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$61,136
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
BachCIP: 5131
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$64,712
Natl Median: $55,753
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$18,771
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$385k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$43,414
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (5yr)
$88,337
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$169k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$21,009
Earnings (5yr)
$58,014
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Median Debt
$20,135
Earnings (5yr)
$78,085
Natl Median: $75,399
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (2yr)
$39,009
Natl Median: $56,381
Lifetime Value Added
-$200k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$22,353
Earnings (2yr)
$39,369
Natl Median: $58,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$74,541
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (5yr)
$63,779
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$58,293
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (5yr)
$81,490
Natl Median: $66,450
Lifetime Value Added
+$118k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (2yr)
$35,351
Natl Median: $41,546
Lifetime Value Added
-$233k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,608
Natl Median: $116,539
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
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
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$20,312
Earnings (5yr)
$67,896
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,125
Earnings (5yr)
$57,249
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$20,338
Earnings (5yr)
$50,826
Natl Median: $56,615
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
Median Debt
$16,418
Earnings (4yr)
$98,013
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$256k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$64,906
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$19,275
Earnings (2yr)
$32,391
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$260k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,250
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$289k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$57,465
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (5yr)
$63,998
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Median Debt
$22,771
Earnings (5yr)
$55,696
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
PB-CertCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,085
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Master's Degrees
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (4yr)
$147,635
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$609k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (2yr)
$54,661
Natl Median: $66,494
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,937
Natl Median: $63,083
Lifetime Value Added
-$316k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$40,485
Natl Median: $50,330
Lifetime Value Added
-$331k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
MastCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Natl Median: $46,476
Lifetime Value Added
-$213k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$36,339
Earnings (5yr)
$90,700
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$44,750
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$76,354
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
MastCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$45,657
Earnings (5yr)
$69,273
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,252
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,235
Natl Median: $60,071
Lifetime Value Added
-$313k
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$86,129
Natl Median: $127,279
Lifetime Value Added
+$105k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$38,164
Earnings (5yr)
$61,708
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
Median Debt
$29,378
Earnings (5yr)
$65,246
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,366
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Graduate Certificates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Gr-CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
Gr-CertCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,509
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Educational/Instructional Media Design
Gr-CertCIP: 1305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,166
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Special Education and Teaching
Gr-CertCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,147
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.