College ROI

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Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC 10,024 Undergrads 65.1% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$19,992
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,315
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,667
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$13,315
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$54,667
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$49,458
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate65.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age22.3
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients34.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time82.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS73.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
81.8%
SAT Avg
1,157
SAT Reading
25th: 56058075th: 660
SAT Math
25th: 52056575th: 610
ACT Composite
25th: 192275th: 25

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

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
+$492k
+$25k
+$8k
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$444k
-$22k
-$40k
Full Cost$20k/yr
+$420k
-$46k
-$64k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
54
∞
Median Cost$13k/yr
Never
-83%
Full Cost$20k/yr
Never
-89%
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-56%

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-58%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Certificates

History
CertCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,929
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$19,428
Earnings (4yr)
$61,346
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Median Debt
$25,090
Earnings (4yr)
$65,010
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$20,732
Earnings (4yr)
$45,809
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$25,193
Earnings (4yr)
$50,180
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Median Debt
$21,836
Earnings (4yr)
$57,713
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$19,618
Earnings (4yr)
$51,213
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Median Debt
$18,697
Earnings (4yr)
$43,322
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Median Debt
$20,870
Earnings (4yr)
$52,183
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$86,853
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$210k
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
BachCIP: 1510
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$83,954
Natl Median: $93,843
Lifetime Value Added
+$188k
Median Debt
$21,430
Earnings (4yr)
$55,903
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Median Debt
$29,911
Earnings (4yr)
$58,467
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Median Debt
$23,952
Earnings (4yr)
$53,622
Natl Median: $55,753
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Median Debt
$24,722
Earnings (4yr)
$34,516
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$211k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (2yr)
$62,012
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
$22,457
Earnings (4yr)
$79,441
Natl Median: $84,599
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
BachCIP: 1500
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (4yr)
$78,801
Natl Median: $80,526
Lifetime Value Added
+$149k
Median Debt
$25,550
Earnings (4yr)
$82,500
Natl Median: $89,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$177k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,079
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
BachCIP: 0302
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$49,834
Natl Median: $56,185
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Median Debt
$22,060
Earnings (4yr)
$58,076
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Median Debt
$25,159
Earnings (4yr)
$43,029
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$23,814
Earnings (4yr)
$42,698
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Median Debt
$25,657
Earnings (4yr)
$49,798
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$243k
Median Debt
$25,860
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,300
Earnings (4yr)
$62,128
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$22,922
Earnings (4yr)
$56,568
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,885
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$44,014
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,831
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Median Debt
$21,415
Earnings (4yr)
$41,786
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$35,643
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$207k
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,077
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,813
Earnings (4yr)
$48,350
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Median Debt
$17,234
Earnings (4yr)
$70,331
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$61,698
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$43,954
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$79,533
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
Median Debt
$23,187
Earnings (4yr)
$49,898
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$40,744
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,246
Natl Median: $57,805
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$24,818
Earnings (4yr)
$50,025
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$46,195
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Median Debt
$20,485
Earnings (4yr)
$47,031
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$24,302
Earnings (4yr)
$50,761
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Median Debt
$23,900
Earnings (4yr)
$47,105
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Median Debt
$24,927
Earnings (4yr)
$48,232
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

History
PB-CertCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,139
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$22,410
Earnings (4yr)
$75,418
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$381
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$28,117
Earnings (4yr)
$100,807
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$223k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,344
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
MastCIP: 1510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$76,460
Natl Median: $96,304
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$22,137
Earnings (4yr)
$54,249
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k
Median Debt
$16,418
Earnings (4yr)
$68,241
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,104
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$269k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,240
Earnings (4yr)
$63,641
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities
MastCIP: 5132
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,161
Natl Median: $100,487
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,818
Earnings (4yr)
$77,673
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Natl Median: $89,051
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,995
Natl Median: $79,106
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$27,476
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$443k
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$72,948
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Median Debt
$36,847
Earnings (4yr)
$122,811
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$415k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$25,807
Earnings (4yr)
$58,911
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$77,046
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$51,558
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$216k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$78,343
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$69,085
Earnings (4yr)
$77,060
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k

Other Programs

Education, General
DegCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,645
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 decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.