East Tennessee State University ROI Analysis
Comprehensive ROI analysis based on tuition costs, graduate earnings, financial aid, and long-term earning potential.
ROI Summary
Total 4-Year Cost
$39,800
In-state tuition x 4
Earnings Premium
$3,704/yr
above high school diploma avg
Break-Even Point
10.7 years
After graduation
20-Year ROI
86%
Return on investment
ROI Analysis
East Tennessee State University's in-state tuition costs $9,950. One year after graduation, alumni earn a median of $39,962. Five years after graduation, earnings decrease slightly to $38,704, but increase to $44,859 ten years after graduation. The median debt for graduates is $19,442, and 35.8% of students receive financial aid.
The debt-to-income ratio, calculated by dividing the median debt by the first-year earnings, is approximately 0.49. This indicates that the median debt is about half of the first year's earnings. The break-even timeline, which is the time it takes for earnings to surpass the cost of tuition, is less than one year.
Generated from College Scorecard & IPEDS data
The Numbers
Annual Tuition (In-State)
$9,950
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,442
Median Earnings (5yr)
$38,704
Graduation Rate
52%
Receive Financial Aid
36%
Avg Aid Amount
N/A
Program-Level ROI
| Program | Median Earnings (5yr) | Est. 20yr ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $113,734 | 3856% |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $61,336 | 1223% |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $46,061 | 456% |
| Psychology, General | $34,058 | N/A |
| Social Work | $44,208 | 363% |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $37,163 | 9% |
| Communication and Media Studies | $33,614 | N/A |
| Public Health | $64,066 | 1361% |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $45,592 | 432% |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | $126,489 | 4497% |
| Marketing | $37,181 | 10% |
| Biology, General | $37,032 | 2% |
Peer Comparison
86%
20yr ROI
119%
20yr ROI
118%
20yr ROI
78%
20yr ROI
134%
20yr ROI
Financial Aid Impact
Before Aid
After Aid (Estimated)
Frequently Asked Questions
Methodology
ROI calculations are based on data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. The earnings premium is calculated as the difference between median graduate earnings and the national average earnings for high school diploma holders ($35,000).
The 20-year ROI formula: ((Earnings Premium x 20) - Total Cost) / Total Cost x 100. Break-even point: Total Cost / Annual Earnings Premium. All figures use in-state tuition and do not account for inflation, opportunity cost, or financial aid variations.