College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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West Virginia State University

Institute, WV 1,328 Undergrads 39.0% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$19,906
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$10,191
After Aid
Median Earnings
$40,492
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$10,191
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$40,492
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate39.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients47.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time91.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS55.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
96.4%
SAT Avg
979
SAT Reading
25th: 430-75th: 550
SAT Math
25th: 400-75th: 523
ACT Composite
25th: 16-75th: 22

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
+$359k
-$37k
-$125k
Median Cost$10k/yr
+$323k
-$74k
-$162k
Full Cost$20k/yr
+$288k
-$109k
-$197k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$10k/yr
Never
-441%
Full Cost$20k/yr
Never
-275%
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-371%

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-131%
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

Bachelor's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$24,700
Earnings (5yr)
$41,240
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$28,250
Earnings (5yr)
$35,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$194k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$22,532
Earnings (5yr)
$37,109
Lifetime Value Added
-$184k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Lifetime Value Added
-$319k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (2yr)
$18,771
Lifetime Value Added
-$332k
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 5199
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,598
Lifetime Value Added
-$242k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$35,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$24,750
Earnings (5yr)
$43,268
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$40,263
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (5yr)
$42,174
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$45,022
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k

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.