College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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West Virginia University at Parkersburg

Parkersburg, WV 1,692 Undergrads 32.0% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$10,643
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$3,613
After Aid
Median Earnings
$35,171
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$3,613
Peer Midpoint: $9,014
Earnings (10yr)$35,171
Peer Midpoint: $40,397
Graduation Rate32.0%
Peer Midpoint: 32.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients46.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time69.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS51.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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
+$356k
-$33k
-$128k
Median Cost$4k/yr
+$350k
-$39k
-$135k
Full Cost$11k/yr
+$337k
-$52k
-$148k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$4k/yr
Never
-2030%
Full Cost$11k/yr
Never
-755%
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-1231%

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-276%
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

Certificates

Criminal Justice and Corrections
CertCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$31,458
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
CertCIP: 5100
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,300
Lifetime Value Added
+$272k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,614
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k

Associate's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,339
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Business/Commerce, General
AssocCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$13,172
Earnings (5yr)
$43,334
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$30,179
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$9,000
Earnings (5yr)
$40,837
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Mechanics and Repairers, General
AssocCIP: 4700
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$22,989
Lifetime Value Added
-$223k
Precision Metal Working
AssocCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,470
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$14,682
Earnings (5yr)
$69,157
Lifetime Value Added
+$210k

Bachelor's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,962
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
Engineering-Related Fields
BachCIP: 1515
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,358
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$17,055
Earnings (5yr)
$43,227
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,442
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k

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.