College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Western Illinois University

Macomb, IL 4,410 Undergrads 55.2% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$28,915
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$10,018
After Aid
Median Earnings
$59,333
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$10,018
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$59,333
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$57,175
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate55.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)21.6
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients29.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time84.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS72.2%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
71.2%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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
+$524k
+$53k
+$37k
Median Cost$10k/yr
+$488k
+$17k
+$1k
Full Cost$29k/yr
+$420k
-$51k
-$67k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
41
∞
Median Cost$10k/yr
63
3%
Full Cost$29k/yr
Never
-64%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
  • 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-21%

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%

Program ROI Analysis

These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$24,249
Earnings (4yr)
$71,059
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
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Median Debt
$15,001
Earnings (4yr)
$58,333
Natl Median: $53,676
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,431
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
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Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $60,997
Lifetime Value Added
-$273k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,140
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,855
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
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Median Debt
$20,168
Earnings (4yr)
$70,021
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,249
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$51,203
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,380
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
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Median Debt
$24,875
Earnings (4yr)
$92,824
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$270k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$85,974
Natl Median: $95,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
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Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$63,125
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,394
Natl Median: $55,753
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$39,141
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
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Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
BachCIP: 1500
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,922
Natl Median: $80,526
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$64,990
Natl Median: $89,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,984
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,059
Natl Median: $48,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,716
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
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Median Debt
$22,847
Earnings (4yr)
$35,703
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
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Fire Protection
BachCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,753
Natl Median: $86,436
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,945
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,304
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,751
Natl Median: $43,283
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,771
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,084
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,039
Natl Median: $67,934
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$70,157
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$97k
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Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$22,578
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$297k
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Median Debt
$24,639
Earnings (4yr)
$55,944
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,453
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
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Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,306
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,019
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$247k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$39,609
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,363
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
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Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,963
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$24,296
Earnings (4yr)
$44,683
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
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Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,966
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
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Median Debt
$24,598
Earnings (4yr)
$86,694
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$223k
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Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$29,686
Earnings (4yr)
$54,063
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,080
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,395
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,631
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$29,590
Earnings (4yr)
$53,576
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
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Median Debt
$16,624
Earnings (4yr)
$43,279
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,255
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$37,825
Natl Median: $47,629
Lifetime Value Added
-$178k
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Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$87,182
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
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Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,753
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
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Median Debt
$25,371
Earnings (4yr)
$85,221
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
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Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,823
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$219k
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Median Debt
$40,442
Earnings (4yr)
$56,934
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,597
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$55,338
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$78,861
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$85,383
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,099
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,987
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,051
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,674
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$343k
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Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,387
Natl Median: $53,692
Lifetime Value Added
-$292k
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Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,028
Natl Median: $57,803
Lifetime Value Added
-$207k
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Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,305
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
-$399k
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Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,378
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,377
Natl Median: $75,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$51,482
Natl Median: $66,129
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k
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Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$235k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,783
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
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Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$49,051
Earnings (4yr)
$51,103
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$216k
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Median Debt
$29,895
Earnings (4yr)
$54,990
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,627
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
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Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$88,399
Natl Median: $74,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$187k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,166
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,959
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $122,843
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Museology/Museum Studies
Gr-CertCIP: 3014
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,250
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,178
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$159,820
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$499k
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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.