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Western Connecticut State University
Danbury, CT 3,434 Undergrads 55.2% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$24,534
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$18,617
After Aid
Median Earnings
$59,115
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$18,617
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$59,115
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate55.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients34.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time87.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS72.4%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
81.4%
SAT Avg
1,044
SAT Reading
25th: 440-75th: 600
SAT Math
25th: 400-75th: 550
ACT Composite
25th: 20-75th: 27
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
+$510k
+$114k
+$26k
Median Cost$19k/yr
+$443k
+$47k
-$41k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$422k
+$25k
-$63k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
44
∞
Median Cost$19k/yr
Never
-62%
Full Cost$25k/yr
Never
-71%
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-29%
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-57%
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
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$78,301
Lifetime Value Added
+$114k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,774
Lifetime Value Added
-$298k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,225
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$23,543
Earnings (5yr)
$48,487
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$57,122
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$28,374
Lifetime Value Added
-$289k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$223k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$76,891
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,253
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Leisure and Recreational Activities
BachCIP: 3601
Median Debt
$22,019
Earnings (5yr)
$41,810
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$21,082
Earnings (5yr)
$80,013
Lifetime Value Added
+$127k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
BachCIP: 5213
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$67,757
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (5yr)
$60,705
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$27,239
Earnings (5yr)
$51,863
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Lifetime Value Added
-$350k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$48,890
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,247
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$93,863
Lifetime Value Added
+$231k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$36,844
Lifetime Value Added
-$216k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$56,137
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,060
Lifetime Value Added
-$213k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,330
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Master's Degrees
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,764
Lifetime Value Added
+$145k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$40,519
Earnings (5yr)
$67,920
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
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.