College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, OH 7,961 Undergrads 51.8% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$21,708
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,767
After Aid
Median Earnings
$56,047
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$12,767
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$56,047
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Warning: This school's reported earnings inflated significantly (+35%) when the Dept of Education excluded non-graduates from the dataset. Take caution when comparing.
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$41,544
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate51.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age21.6
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients36.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time85.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS62.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
84.5%
SAT Avg
1,120
SAT Reading
25th: 51053075th: 620
SAT Math
25th: 50052575th: 610
ACT Composite
25th: 192175th: 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
+$504k
+$37k
+$19k
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$458k
-$9k
-$27k
Full Cost$22k/yr
+$426k
-$41k
-$59k

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
47
∞
Median Cost$13k/yr
Never
-58%
Full Cost$22k/yr
Never
-75%
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 Return-34%

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-55%
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
-
Earnings (5yr)
$36,164
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,927
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,519
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $57,472
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,246
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Programming
AssocCIP: 1102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,070
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,303
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,895
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
$18,265
Earnings (4yr)
$85,357
Natl Median: $67,792
Lifetime Value Added
+$350k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,099
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$29,999
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$177k
Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (4yr)
$75,595
Natl Median: $64,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$263k
Social Work
AssocCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,409
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$67,992
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
Median Debt
$28,500
Earnings (4yr)
$76,896
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$136k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$19,227
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$337k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,333
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,447
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$62,697
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,375
Earnings (4yr)
$89,150
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,142
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Median Debt
$27,750
Earnings (4yr)
$78,450
Natl Median: $76,549
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (4yr)
$80,437
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$163k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$28,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,648
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,584
Natl Median: $83,439
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$20,930
Earnings (4yr)
$85,028
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$198k
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (4yr)
$52,574
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,905
Earnings (4yr)
$62,099
Natl Median: $68,061
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Median Debt
$27,729
Earnings (4yr)
$51,687
Natl Median: $55,753
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$90,539
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$240k
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$79,649
Natl Median: $84,599
Lifetime Value Added
+$145k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$42,408
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Median Debt
$20,916
Earnings (4yr)
$63,294
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
Median Debt
$29,175
Earnings (4yr)
$36,539
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,598
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$251k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Gerontology
BachCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,051
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,506
Earnings (4yr)
$63,979
Natl Median: $68,245
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$38,754
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Median Debt
$22,888
Earnings (4yr)
$47,657
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$69,341
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$86,340
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$208k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,924
Earnings (4yr)
$46,399
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$23,900
Earnings (4yr)
$66,058
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,694
Earnings (4yr)
$86,361
Natl Median: $82,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$209k
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (4yr)
$80,158
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$161k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,965
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
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
$22,798
Earnings (4yr)
$57,643
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$42,690
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,771
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$231k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$41,630
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$77,576
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,085
Earnings (4yr)
$43,031
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$43,798
Natl Median: $57,805
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$27,995
Earnings (4yr)
$49,361
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,063
Earnings (4yr)
$39,497
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,232
Natl Median: $59,631
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,297
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (4yr)
$38,535
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$42,737
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$78,145
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Median Debt
$30,361
Earnings (4yr)
$64,931
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,936
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (4yr)
$101,077
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$226k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,468
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,976
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $148,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$58,673
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,215
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Gerontology
MastCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$34,047
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$330k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $119,184
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)
$45,051
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$278k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$48,456
Earnings (4yr)
$147,080
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$625k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$35,338
Earnings (4yr)
$61,197
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,568
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$225k
Median Debt
$34,125
Earnings (4yr)
$51,304
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$218k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,170
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$200k

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Materials Sciences
DocCIP: 4010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $144,084
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$58,087
Earnings (4yr)
$82,683
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,496
Natl Median: $62,426
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,768
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,740
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,308
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

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.