College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

West Texas A & M University

Canyon, TX 6,917 Undergrads 54.6% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$23,482
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$19,487
After Aid
Median Earnings
$55,166
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$19,487
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$55,166
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$50,741
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate54.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age23.0
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients40.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time77.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
98.7%
SAT Avg
1,050
SAT Reading
25th: 48054575th: 590
SAT Math
25th: 47053975th: 580
ACT Composite
25th: 182175th: 23

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
+$496k
+$30k
+$12k
Median Cost$19k/yr
+$426k
-$41k
-$58k
Full Cost$23k/yr
+$412k
-$55k
-$72k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
51
∞
Median Cost$19k/yr
Never
-83%
Full Cost$23k/yr
Never
-86%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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-54%

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-62%
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

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$61,262
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$37,996
Natl Median: $40,334
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k
Median Debt
$16,213
Earnings (4yr)
$51,103
Natl Median: $66,647
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,270
Natl Median: $54,152
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,396
Natl Median: $53,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
-$187k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,368
Natl Median: $49,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$43,403
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Biotechnology
BachCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,097
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,550
Earnings (4yr)
$71,979
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
Median Debt
$17,789
Earnings (4yr)
$60,430
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,009
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,625
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$293k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$110,873
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$355k
Median Debt
$21,350
Earnings (4yr)
$58,011
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$18,315
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$370k
Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (4yr)
$47,175
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
BachCIP: 1500
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,432
Natl Median: $80,526
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Median Debt
$21,021
Earnings (4yr)
$44,920
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,171
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,343
Earnings (4yr)
$66,534
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (4yr)
$51,397
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,998
Earnings (4yr)
$49,618
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Median Debt
$25,661
Earnings (5yr)
$74,184
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$20,125
Earnings (4yr)
$58,303
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,625
Earnings (4yr)
$93,938
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$242k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$49,241
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$48,656
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,432
Natl Median: $56,567
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$18,389
Earnings (4yr)
$45,193
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,261
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Median Debt
$18,250
Earnings (5yr)
$46,179
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Median Debt
$16,757
Earnings (4yr)
$40,183
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$184k
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$79,583
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$133k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$22,473
Earnings (4yr)
$44,174
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
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
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$48,492
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,055
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$83,825
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,941
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Animal Sciences
MastCIP: 0109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,394
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$124,819
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$421k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,923
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$67,693
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,555
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,763
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,110
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
MastCIP: 1500
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $111,169
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$121,970
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
+$396k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$117,518
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$357k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$143,805
Natl Median: $106,092
Lifetime Value Added
+$585k
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,106
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
MastCIP: 0111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,814
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$118,510
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$366k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,188
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,537
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,283
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k

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.