College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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West Virginia University Institute of Technology

Beckley, WV 1,009 Undergrads 31.0% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$18,343
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$9,957
After Aid
Median Earnings
$55,939
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$9,957
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$55,939
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate31.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients37.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time93.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS71.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
61.0%
SAT Avg
1,044
SAT Reading
25th: 47051575th: 570
SAT Math
25th: 43051075th: 550
ACT Composite
25th: 182275th: 24

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$10k/yr
+$449k
+$53k
-$35k
Full Cost$18k/yr
+$419k
+$22k
-$65k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
64
Median Cost$10k/yr
Never
-98%
Full Cost$18k/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-71%

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-60%
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

Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$82,077
Lifetime Value Added
+$174k
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
BachCIP: 1402
Median Debt
$27,242
Earnings (5yr)
$96,827
Lifetime Value Added
+$284k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$57,866
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$25,262
Earnings (5yr)
$67,056
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$22,354
Earnings (5yr)
$89,812
Lifetime Value Added
+$232k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$71,142
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$81,556
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$99,140
Lifetime Value Added
+$301k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$22,221
Earnings (5yr)
$99,815
Lifetime Value Added
+$306k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$20,180
Earnings (5yr)
$50,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$90,443
Lifetime Value Added
+$236k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$23,677
Earnings (5yr)
$52,628
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$21,431
Earnings (5yr)
$59,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$127
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$50,337
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$80,411
Lifetime Value Added
+$161k
Security Science and Technology
BachCIP: 4304
Median Debt
$24,121
Earnings (5yr)
$55,315
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$50,557
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k

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.