College ROI

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Area Studies.

Undergrad Certificate23 Institutions

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.

Annual Full Cost vs. Median Earnings

Each dot represents one program at an institution. Shows the spread of annual sticker price (or net price if sticker price is unavailable) vs earnings 4 years post-grad.

Field Median ($63,939)
P25-P75 Interval ($43,166 - $63,939)
HS Baseline ($35,872)
Breakeven Line (0% ROI)
Institution
State
Earnings
Avg Net PriceMedian Debt
Lifetime Value Added
Johnstown
PA
$63,939
Nat: $52,845
4yr Post-Grad
$18,202
/yr
-
+$219k
Pittsburgh
PA
$63,939
Nat: $52,845
4yr Post-Grad
$30,434
/yr
-
+$208k
Milwaukee
WI
$43,166
Nat: $52,845
4yr Post-Grad
$15,014
/yr
$22,378
+$5k
Tempe
AZ
-
Nat: $52,845
$14,967
/yr
-
-$0
Boulder
CO
-
Nat: $52,845
$25,346
/yr
-
-$0
Boca Raton
FL
-
Nat: $52,845
$8,752
/yr
-
-$0
Athens
GA
-
Nat: $52,845
$13,936
/yr
-
-$0
University of Hawaii at Hilo
⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI.
Hilo
HI
-
Nat: $52,845
$11,856
/yr
-
-$0
Indianapolis
IN
-
Nat: $52,845
$11,668
/yr
-
-$0
Indiana University-Southeast
⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI.
New Albany
IN
-
Nat: $52,845
$7,888
/yr
-
-$0
Lexington
KY
-
Nat: $52,845
$18,851
/yr
-
-$0
Frederick
MD
-
Nat: $52,845
$20,873
/yr
-
-$0
Kansas City
MO
-
Nat: $52,845
$27,650
/yr
-
-$0
Davidson
NC
-
Nat: $52,845
$17,379
/yr
-
-$0
Sinclair Community College
⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI.
Dayton
OH
-
Nat: $52,845
$5,992
/yr
-
-$0
Community College of Allegheny County
⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI.
Pittsburgh
PA
-
Nat: $52,845
$13,970
/yr
-
-$0
Indiana
PA
-
Nat: $52,845
$16,804
/yr
-
-$0
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College
⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI.
Erie
PA
-
Nat: $52,845
$24,558
/yr
-
-$0
University Park
PA
-
Nat: $52,845
$32,875
/yr
-
-$0
Shippensburg
PA
-
Nat: $52,845
$23,726
/yr
-
-$0
Slippery Rock
PA
-
Nat: $52,845
$19,608
/yr
$21,437
-$0
Philadelphia
PA
-
Nat: $52,845
$28,198
/yr
-
-$0
Augusta
GA
-
Nat: $52,845
$13,787
/yr
-
-$0
Analysis Notes:
  • Lifetime Value Added: Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes.
  • Avg Net Price: The average price paid by students who receive federal financial aid (grants/loans).
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.