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West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV 17,705 Undergrads 63.6% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$23,678
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,997
After Aid
Median Earnings
$55,939
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$12,997
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$55,939
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate63.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients22.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time96.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS71.8%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
86.3%
SAT Avg
1,129
SAT Reading
25th: 52057075th: 630
SAT Math
25th: 49056075th: 610
ACT Composite
25th: 202475th: 26
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
+$485k
+$88k
+$541
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$438k
+$42k
-$46k
Full Cost$24k/yr
+$400k
+$3k
-$85k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
64
∞
Median Cost$13k/yr
Never
-99%
Full Cost$24k/yr
Never
-99%
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-78%
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-69%
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
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,912
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Education, General
AssocCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$11,050
Earnings (5yr)
$25,062
Lifetime Value Added
-$234k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$33,585
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$82,077
Lifetime Value Added
+$163k
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
BachCIP: 1402
Median Debt
$27,242
Earnings (5yr)
$96,827
Lifetime Value Added
+$273k
Agricultural Business and Management
BachCIP: 0101
Median Debt
$23,796
Earnings (5yr)
$61,123
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$54,660
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$57,866
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$68,412
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$25,262
Earnings (5yr)
$67,056
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Business/Managerial Economics
BachCIP: 5206
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$80,002
Lifetime Value Added
+$147k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$22,354
Earnings (5yr)
$89,812
Lifetime Value Added
+$221k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$71,142
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$81,556
Lifetime Value Added
+$159k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5110
Median Debt
$24,573
Earnings (5yr)
$65,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$23,840
Earnings (5yr)
$70,136
Lifetime Value Added
+$73k
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
BachCIP: 0999
Median Debt
$24,478
Earnings (5yr)
$68,006
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$99,140
Lifetime Value Added
+$290k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$23,026
Earnings (5yr)
$95,524
Lifetime Value Added
+$263k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,034
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$69,997
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$61,505
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$25,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$295k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$22,221
Earnings (5yr)
$99,815
Lifetime Value Added
+$295k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (5yr)
$41,351
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$24,242
Earnings (5yr)
$80,532
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$23,242
Earnings (5yr)
$41,799
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
Forestry
BachCIP: 0305
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$53,335
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$23,089
Earnings (5yr)
$52,226
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$22,719
Earnings (5yr)
$47,923
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$24,916
Earnings (5yr)
$56,314
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$51,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,978
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Industrial Engineering
BachCIP: 1435
Median Debt
$25,048
Earnings (5yr)
$95,095
Lifetime Value Added
+$260k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$24,188
Earnings (5yr)
$59,325
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Landscape Architecture
BachCIP: 0406
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,964
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$20,180
Earnings (5yr)
$50,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
$20,916
Earnings (5yr)
$51,800
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$20,898
Earnings (5yr)
$95,160
Lifetime Value Added
+$261k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$22,777
Earnings (5yr)
$70,041
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$90,443
Lifetime Value Added
+$225k
Mining and Mineral Engineering
BachCIP: 1421
Median Debt
$24,903
Earnings (5yr)
$92,289
Lifetime Value Added
+$239k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$23,677
Earnings (5yr)
$52,628
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$23,975
Earnings (5yr)
$41,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management
BachCIP: 3103
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Petroleum Engineering
BachCIP: 1425
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$92,874
Lifetime Value Added
+$243k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,560
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
BachCIP: 2609
Median Debt
$21,187
Earnings (5yr)
$66,596
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$37,470
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$21,431
Earnings (5yr)
$59,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$50,337
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$80,411
Lifetime Value Added
+$150k
Security Science and Technology
BachCIP: 4304
Median Debt
$24,121
Earnings (5yr)
$55,315
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$24,778
Earnings (5yr)
$49,271
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$44,783
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$50,557
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management
BachCIP: 0306
Median Debt
$19,746
Earnings (5yr)
$45,964
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$82,472
Lifetime Value Added
+$265k
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
MastCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$76,875
Earnings (2yr)
$88,195
Lifetime Value Added
+$360k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (5yr)
$86,826
Lifetime Value Added
+$302k
Business/Commerce, General
MastCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$111,315
Lifetime Value Added
+$512k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$64,448
Lifetime Value Added
+$109k
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
MastCIP: 0999
Median Debt
$39,292
Earnings (2yr)
$39,585
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$50,723
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,729
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Educational/Instructional Media Design
MastCIP: 1305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,823
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$37,697
Earnings (5yr)
$109,007
Lifetime Value Added
+$493k
Legal Professions and Studies, Other
MastCIP: 2299
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$39,263
Earnings (5yr)
$62,318
Lifetime Value Added
+$90k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$46,944
Earnings (5yr)
$66,085
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
MastCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$39,224
Earnings (5yr)
$85,564
Lifetime Value Added
+$292k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$45,144
Earnings (5yr)
$123,579
Lifetime Value Added
+$617k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (5yr)
$69,216
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$36,479
Earnings (5yr)
$56,148
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$37,654
Earnings (5yr)
$53,518
Lifetime Value Added
+$9k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$33,000
Earnings (5yr)
$52,053
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,433
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$21,001
Earnings (5yr)
$52,918
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Doctoral Degrees
Psychology, General
DocCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$72,796
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Professional Degrees
Dentistry
ProfCIP: 5104
Median Debt
$189,776
Earnings (5yr)
$158,414
Lifetime Value Added
+$671k
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$93,735
Earnings (5yr)
$81,586
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$178,036
Earnings (5yr)
$153,284
Lifetime Value Added
+$634k
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
ProfCIP: 5120
Median Debt
$74,824
Earnings (5yr)
$138,334
Lifetime Value Added
+$527k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
ProfCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$88,808
Earnings (5yr)
$83,707
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
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.