College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology

Wichita, KS 2,778 Undergrads 45.3% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$16,928
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$10,741
After Aid
Median Earnings
$38,679
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$10,741
Peer Midpoint: $16,832
Earnings (10yr)$38,679
Peer Midpoint: $31,349
Graduation Rate45.3%
Peer Midpoint: 66.3%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients44.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time50.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS62.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
100.0%
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
+$414k
+$89k
-$70k
Median Cost$11k/yr
+$404k
+$79k
-$80k
Full Cost$17k/yr
+$398k
+$74k
-$86k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$11k/yr
Never
-807%
Full Cost$17k/yr
Never
-548%
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-906%

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-227%
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

Certificates

Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies
CertCIP: 5126
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$30,709
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1506
Median Debt
$5,500
Earnings (5yr)
$57,494
Lifetime Value Added
+$149k
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1508
Median Debt
$4,750
Earnings (5yr)
$42,373
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
$9,500
Earnings (5yr)
$48,113
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
$4,432
Earnings (5yr)
$42,129
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$57,901
Lifetime Value Added
+$153k

Associate's Degrees

Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1513
Median Debt
$16,168
Earnings (2yr)
$33,809
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k

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.