College ROI

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West Liberty University

West Liberty, WV 1,578 Undergrads 57.8% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$23,526
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,295
After Aid
Median Earnings
$43,296
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$16,295
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$43,296
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate57.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients36.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time95.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS63.2%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
72.1%
SAT Avg
1,041
SAT Reading
25th: 47052875th: 585
SAT Math
25th: 42050575th: 540
ACT Composite
25th: 182175th: 24

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
+$382k
-$14k
-$102k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$324k
-$73k
-$161k
Full Cost$24k/yr
+$298k
-$99k
-$187k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
Never
-274%
Full Cost$24k/yr
Never
-220%
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-284%

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-116%
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

Associate's Degrees

Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$26,179
Earnings (5yr)
$47,566
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k

Bachelor's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$25,905
Earnings (5yr)
$44,582
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,170
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,375
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$54,642
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$25,481
Earnings (2yr)
$32,925
Lifetime Value Added
-$224k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,982
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,007
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$27,042
Earnings (5yr)
$42,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$38,943
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,610
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,116
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$24,876
Earnings (5yr)
$42,828
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k

Master's Degrees

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
MastCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$110,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$498k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$20,218
Earnings (2yr)
$39,369
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,230
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k

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.