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Worcester State University
Worcester, MA 3,963 Undergrads 62.4% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$21,586
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$14,738
After Aid
Median Earnings
$60,624
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$14,738
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$60,624
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate62.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients32.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time84.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS80.1%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
89.9%
SAT Avg
1,145
SAT Reading
25th: 50555575th: 635
SAT Math
25th: 50355775th: 645
ACT Composite
25th: -2475th: -
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
+$522k
+$125k
+$37k
Median Cost$15k/yr
+$469k
+$72k
-$16k
Full Cost$22k/yr
+$444k
+$48k
-$40k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
41
∞
Median Cost$15k/yr
Never
-30%
Full Cost$22k/yr
Never
-52%
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 Return7%
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-44%
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
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,043
Earnings (5yr)
$67,630
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
Biotechnology
BachCIP: 2612
Median Debt
$17,455
Earnings (5yr)
$87,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$194k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$68,157
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,948
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$20,149
Earnings (5yr)
$53,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$20,564
Earnings (5yr)
$61,578
Lifetime Value Added
+$1k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$79,279
Lifetime Value Added
+$135k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$21,050
Earnings (5yr)
$66,498
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,673
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$43,186
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 5199
Median Debt
$24,938
Earnings (5yr)
$53,851
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$24,680
Earnings (5yr)
$48,516
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$55,146
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,955
Earnings (5yr)
$52,586
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$89,927
Lifetime Value Added
+$215k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
BachCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$77,384
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$54,599
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$20,297
Earnings (5yr)
$44,840
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Urban Studies/Affairs
BachCIP: 4512
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Visual and Performing Arts, General
BachCIP: 5001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,925
Lifetime Value Added
-$219k
Master's Degrees
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$76,480
Lifetime Value Added
+$210k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$21,166
Earnings (5yr)
$57,523
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$84,653
Lifetime Value Added
+$325k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$72,190
Lifetime Value Added
+$173k
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.