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Wichita State University
Wichita, KS 10,493 Undergrads 51.2% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$21,064
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,776
After Aid
Median Earnings
$51,532
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$13,776
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$51,532
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate51.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients34.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time81.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.2%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
94.9%
SAT Avg
1,118
SAT Reading
25th: 49055275th: 630
SAT Math
25th: 48055075th: 620
ACT Composite
25th: 182375th: 26
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
+$450k
+$53k
-$35k
Median Cost$14k/yr
+$400k
+$4k
-$84k
Full Cost$21k/yr
+$374k
-$23k
-$111k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$14k/yr
Never
-170%
Full Cost$21k/yr
Never
-146%
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-155%
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-84%
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
Associate's Degrees
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$18,138
Earnings (5yr)
$43,177
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$72,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
BachCIP: 1402
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$82,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$163k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$18,975
Earnings (2yr)
$24,615
Lifetime Value Added
-$291k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (5yr)
$55,232
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
BachCIP: 1405
Median Debt
$19,118
Earnings (2yr)
$40,281
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$57,299
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$24,312
Earnings (5yr)
$61,822
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5110
Median Debt
$14,250
Earnings (5yr)
$68,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$22,698
Earnings (5yr)
$44,116
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$48,007
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$21,865
Earnings (5yr)
$89,791
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$22,382
Earnings (5yr)
$45,068
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Curriculum and Instruction
BachCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,406
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$53,564
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$23,200
Earnings (5yr)
$45,071
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$20,738
Earnings (5yr)
$88,629
Lifetime Value Added
+$209k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$18,730
Earnings (5yr)
$29,802
Lifetime Value Added
-$259k
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
BachCIP: 5207
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,640
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$36,820
Lifetime Value Added
-$199k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$60,600
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$26,250
Earnings (5yr)
$28,692
Lifetime Value Added
-$269k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,647
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$47,557
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$49,464
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,827
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$64,037
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
Industrial Engineering
BachCIP: 1435
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$63,005
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
$16,868
Earnings (5yr)
$69,998
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,463
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (2yr)
$24,421
Lifetime Value Added
-$293k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$77,737
Lifetime Value Added
+$127k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$16,687
Earnings (5yr)
$44,929
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$19,710
Earnings (5yr)
$88,218
Lifetime Value Added
+$206k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$29,586
Lifetime Value Added
-$261k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$20,541
Earnings (2yr)
$30,771
Lifetime Value Added
-$235k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$44,476
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$66,435
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$45,622
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$37,333
Lifetime Value Added
-$195k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$19,603
Earnings (5yr)
$45,796
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Visual and Performing Arts, General
BachCIP: 5001
Median Debt
$22,126
Earnings (5yr)
$30,426
Lifetime Value Added
-$254k
Master's Degrees
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
MastCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$64,510
Earnings (5yr)
$128,612
Lifetime Value Added
+$658k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$20,585
Earnings (5yr)
$79,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$240k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$61,454
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Computer Engineering
MastCIP: 1409
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$78,114
Lifetime Value Added
+$267k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$26,994
Earnings (5yr)
$49,542
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$32,597
Earnings (5yr)
$52,322
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$77,166
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$205k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$24,877
Earnings (5yr)
$52,738
Lifetime Value Added
+$459
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
MastCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$26,375
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Industrial Engineering
MastCIP: 1435
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$80,022
Lifetime Value Added
+$285k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$36,911
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$110,878
Lifetime Value Added
+$565k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$27,282
Earnings (5yr)
$54,675
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,039
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$37,532
Earnings (5yr)
$59,671
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Doctoral Degrees
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
DocCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$76,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$109k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
DocCIP: 5102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$68,219
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$66,364
Earnings (5yr)
$79,490
Lifetime Value Added
+$97k
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.