College ROI

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Wichita State University

Wichita, KS 10,780 Undergrads 52.7% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$21,780
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,194
After Aid
Median Earnings
$59,707
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$13,194
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$59,707
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$51,532
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate52.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age23.6
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients36.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time80.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.2%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
94.0%
SAT Avg
1,092
SAT Reading
25th: 47055275th: 610
SAT Math
25th: 43555075th: 630
ACT Composite
25th: 172375th: 25

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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$533k
+$66k
+$49k
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$486k
+$19k
+$1k
Full Cost$22k/yr
+$455k
-$12k
-$29k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
38
∞
Median Cost$13k/yr
63
3%
Full Cost$22k/yr
Never
-38%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return33%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-38%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
$18,138
Earnings (4yr)
$44,605
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$69,696
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$83,057
Natl Median: $98,207
Lifetime Value Added
+$182k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$18,975
Earnings (4yr)
$47,392
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (4yr)
$56,959
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Median Debt
$19,118
Earnings (4yr)
$72,936
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$63,852
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Median Debt
$21,698
Earnings (4yr)
$73,166
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$24,312
Earnings (4yr)
$67,475
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Median Debt
$14,250
Earnings (4yr)
$69,711
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Median Debt
$22,698
Earnings (4yr)
$50,773
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,638
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Median Debt
$13,684
Earnings (4yr)
$81,265
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$168k
Median Debt
$21,865
Earnings (4yr)
$76,203
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$21,875
Earnings (4yr)
$97,335
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$291k
Median Debt
$22,382
Earnings (4yr)
$51,305
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,036
Natl Median: $50,452
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$61,982
Natl Median: $68,061
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Median Debt
$23,200
Earnings (4yr)
$36,723
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,738
Earnings (4yr)
$94,738
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$271k
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
BachCIP: 1500
Median Debt
$22,154
Earnings (4yr)
$77,103
Natl Median: $80,526
Lifetime Value Added
+$136k
Median Debt
$18,730
Earnings (4yr)
$46,768
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,960
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$36,820
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$64,060
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
Median Debt
$26,250
Earnings (4yr)
$37,604
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$184k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,647
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Gerontology
BachCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,051
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$48,446
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Median Debt
$20,207
Earnings (4yr)
$48,537
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,090
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$63,150
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$63,005
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,907
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$16,868
Earnings (4yr)
$65,366
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,452
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (2yr)
$24,421
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$291k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$67,413
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$16,687
Earnings (4yr)
$52,709
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,710
Earnings (4yr)
$89,074
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$228k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$29,586
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$259k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,833
Natl Median: $62,172
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Median Debt
$20,541
Earnings (4yr)
$54,874
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$42,690
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$75,784
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,805
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,670
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$42,450
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$47,463
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,129
Earnings (4yr)
$47,389
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Median Debt
$19,603
Earnings (4yr)
$51,728
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Median Debt
$22,126
Earnings (4yr)
$37,012
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$93,185
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$156k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $122,434
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$64,510
Earnings (4yr)
$123,921
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$424k
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,585
Earnings (4yr)
$118,940
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$381k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,526
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$61,406
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$78,114
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,994
Earnings (4yr)
$62,768
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Median Debt
$32,597
Earnings (4yr)
$58,560
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,073
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$83,571
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,232
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$420k
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
MastCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,563
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,375
Earnings (4yr)
$52,823
Natl Median: $58,524
Lifetime Value Added
-$204k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$80,022
Natl Median: $119,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,835
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,779
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$233k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,681
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,671
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$110,878
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$350k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$27,282
Earnings (4yr)
$59,219
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,632
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$24,877
Earnings (4yr)
$58,288
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Median Debt
$37,532
Earnings (4yr)
$59,508
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Systems Engineering
MastCIP: 1427
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $144,565
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $207,164
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,509
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,774
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$101,668
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$68,219
Natl Median: $88,343
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $137,148
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
DocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,070
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$58,900
Earnings (4yr)
$112,564
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$140k
Median Debt
$66,364
Earnings (4yr)
$80,257
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k

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.