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Western Illinois University
Macomb, IL 4,939 Undergrads 57.4% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$27,828
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$11,592
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,163
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$11,592
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$54,163
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate57.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients37.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time86.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS72.1%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
75.0%
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
+$471k
+$74k
-$14k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$429k
+$33k
-$55k
Full Cost$28k/yr
+$371k
-$26k
-$114k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
Never
-133%
Full Cost$28k/yr
Never
-114%
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-106%
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-79%
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
$23,627
Earnings (5yr)
$65,058
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Agriculture, General
BachCIP: 0100
Median Debt
$17,062
Earnings (5yr)
$58,204
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
BachCIP: 4004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$278k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,891
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$24,312
Earnings (5yr)
$61,543
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$25,314
Earnings (5yr)
$71,894
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$28,170
Earnings (5yr)
$51,354
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$24,242
Earnings (5yr)
$73,734
Lifetime Value Added
+$105k
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
BachCIP: 1109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,598
Lifetime Value Added
-$247k
Construction Management
BachCIP: 5220
Median Debt
$24,656
Earnings (5yr)
$84,868
Lifetime Value Added
+$189k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$24,859
Earnings (5yr)
$65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$15,922
Lifetime Value Added
-$364k
Engineering Technology, General
BachCIP: 1500
Median Debt
$30,059
Earnings (5yr)
$76,965
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
Engineering, General
BachCIP: 1401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$64,990
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$21,032
Earnings (5yr)
$35,909
Lifetime Value Added
-$199k
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,097
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$26,250
Earnings (5yr)
$59,698
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$43,046
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Fire Protection
BachCIP: 4302
Median Debt
$20,931
Earnings (2yr)
$30,771
Lifetime Value Added
-$227k
Graphic Communications
BachCIP: 1003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$37,413
Lifetime Value Added
-$186k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$39,000
Earnings (5yr)
$47,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$29,125
Earnings (5yr)
$59,683
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$30,875
Earnings (5yr)
$44,924
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other
BachCIP: 4399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,369
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$21,875
Earnings (5yr)
$48,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,208
Lifetime Value Added
-$162k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,040
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$28,500
Earnings (5yr)
$66,612
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General
BachCIP: 3000
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,019
Lifetime Value Added
-$252k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,354
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management
BachCIP: 3103
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$41,189
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$24,820
Earnings (5yr)
$41,581
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$27,161
Earnings (5yr)
$45,151
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$20,559
Earnings (5yr)
$80,342
Lifetime Value Added
+$155k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,441
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$28,369
Earnings (5yr)
$47,489
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$27,250
Earnings (5yr)
$50,480
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$22,896
Earnings (5yr)
$48,274
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$22,446
Earnings (5yr)
$44,479
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,486
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$89,822
Lifetime Value Added
+$331k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,238
Lifetime Value Added
+$136k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$21,230
Earnings (5yr)
$91,506
Lifetime Value Added
+$345k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,823
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$27,407
Earnings (5yr)
$58,006
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$95,531
Lifetime Value Added
+$380k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$36,796
Earnings (5yr)
$71,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$176k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$36,730
Earnings (5yr)
$82,067
Lifetime Value Added
+$264k
Educational/Instructional Media Design
MastCIP: 1305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,091
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$28,530
Earnings (5yr)
$50,919
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
MastCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,674
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management
MastCIP: 3103
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,854
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Political Science and Government
MastCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,990
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,741
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
MastCIP: 0907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,771
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k
Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education
MastCIP: 1309
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$51,482
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$31,211
Earnings (5yr)
$52,646
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,792
Lifetime Value Added
+$70k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$34,698
Earnings (5yr)
$60,809
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
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.