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West Virginia State University
Institute, WV 1,321 Undergrads 40.6% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$19,772
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$11,139
After Aid
Median Earnings
$44,688
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$11,139
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$44,688
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate40.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients48.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time91.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS55.3%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
96.0%
SAT Avg
955
SAT Reading
25th: 410-75th: 550
SAT Math
25th: 350-75th: 490
ACT Composite
25th: 15-75th: 20
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
+$409k
-$58k
-$76k
Median Cost$11k/yr
+$369k
-$98k
-$116k
Full Cost$20k/yr
+$338k
-$129k
-$147k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$11k/yr
Never
-289%
Full Cost$20k/yr
Never
-206%
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-256%
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-106%
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
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$24,700
Earnings (4yr)
$50,169
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$28,250
Earnings (4yr)
$37,866
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$22,532
Earnings (4yr)
$50,063
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,303
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$22,764
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$307k
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 5199
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,598
Natl Median: $68,245
Lifetime Value Added
-$245k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$35,560
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$200k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$24,750
Earnings (4yr)
$47,026
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management
BachCIP: 3103
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$42,434
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (4yr)
$41,571
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
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
$20,750
Earnings (4yr)
$46,622
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$43,924
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
Accounting and Related Services
PB-CertCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,165
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Master's Degrees
Biotechnology
MastCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,682
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication and Media Studies
MastCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,408
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 degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.