College ROI

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Bachelor's Degree22 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 ($53,055)
P25-P75 Interval ($47,880 - $67,018)
HS Baseline ($35,872)
Breakeven Line (0% ROI)
Institution
State
Earnings
Avg Net PriceMedian Debt
Lifetime Value Added
Lubbock
TX
$78,435
Nat: $53,262
4yr Post-Grad
$19,070
/yr
$27,000
+$125k
Athens
GA
$74,107
Nat: $53,262
4yr Post-Grad
$13,936
/yr
$18,750
+$111k
Columbia
MO
$74,381
Nat: $53,262
4yr Post-Grad
$20,268
/yr
$27,000
+$90k
Salt Lake City
UT
$69,027
Nat: $53,262
4yr Post-Grad
$16,200
/yr
-
+$64k
Columbus
OH
$67,018
Nat: $53,262
4yr Post-Grad
$17,339
/yr
$20,645
+$44k
Tuscaloosa
AL
$65,674
Nat: $53,262
4yr Post-Grad
$22,420
/yr
$22,477
+$15k
Knoxville
TN
$63,996
Nat: $53,262
4yr Post-Grad
$18,976
/yr
$18,500
+$15k
Ames
IA
$62,341
Nat: $53,262
4yr Post-Grad
$18,589
/yr
$16,029
+$3k
Athens
OH
-
Nat: $53,262
$21,637
/yr
-
-$0
North Canton
OH
-
Nat: $53,262
$20,493
/yr
-
-$0
Arizona State University Digital Immersion
⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI.
Scottsdale
AZ
$50,074
Nat: $53,262
4yr Post-Grad
-
/yr
$20,000
-$30k
Brookings
SD
$56,132
Nat: $53,262
4yr Post-Grad
$19,841
/yr
$21,852
-$51k
Minneapolis
MN
$53,055
Nat: $53,262
4yr Post-Grad
$16,778
/yr
$17,851
-$66k
Tempe
AZ
$50,074
Nat: $53,262
4yr Post-Grad
$14,967
/yr
$20,000
-$84k
SUNY Buffalo State University
⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI.
Buffalo
NY
$47,880
Nat: $53,262
4yr Post-Grad
$11,346
/yr
$21,691
-$89k
Kearney
NE
$49,584
Nat: $53,262
4yr Post-Grad
$16,242
/yr
$17,751
-$93k
San Marcos
TX
$49,406
Nat: $53,262
4yr Post-Grad
$16,805
/yr
$19,349
-$96k
Lincoln
NE
$48,305
Nat: $53,262
4yr Post-Grad
$17,747
/yr
$20,544
-$109k
Virginia State University
⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI.
Petersburg
VA
$46,514
Nat: $53,262
4yr Post-Grad
$15,840
/yr
$28,500
-$117k
Tennessee State University
⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI.
Nashville
TN
$42,524
Nat: $53,262
4yr Post-Grad
$15,796
/yr
$28,250
-$151k
Ashford University
⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI.
San Diego
CA
$45,128
Nat: $53,262
2yr Post-Grad
$31,266
/yr
-
-$169k
Murfreesboro
TN
$39,268
Nat: $53,262
4yr Post-Grad
$13,359
/yr
$23,000
-$170k
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.