Virginia 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
$39,020
In-state tuition x 4
Earnings Premium
$-1,370/yr
below high school diploma avg
Break-Even Point
N/A years
After graduation
20-Year ROI
-170%
Return on investment
ROI Analysis
The average in-state tuition at Virginia State University is $9755. One year after graduation, alumni earn a median of $31713. Five years after graduation, median earnings are $33630, and ten years after graduation, median earnings are $45543. The median debt for graduates is $26500, and 75.7% of students receive financial aid.
The debt-to-income ratio, comparing the median debt to the one-year post-graduation earnings, is approximately 0.83. To calculate the break-even point, the median debt of $26500 is divided by the difference between the one-year earnings and the tuition cost, which is $21958. This results in a break-even timeline of approximately 1.2 years.
Generated from College Scorecard & IPEDS data
The Numbers
Annual Tuition (In-State)
$9,755
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,500
Median Earnings (5yr)
$33,630
Graduation Rate
39%
Receive Financial Aid
76%
Avg Aid Amount
N/A
Program-Level ROI
| Program | Median Earnings (5yr) | Est. 20yr ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $39,377 | 124% |
| Psychology, General | $42,978 | 309% |
| Communication and Media Studies | $39,191 | 115% |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $38,159 | 62% |
| Biology, General | $40,623 | 188% |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $37,409 | 23% |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $64,437 | 1409% |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $0 | N/A |
| Social Work | $42,801 | 300% |
| Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies | $44,000 | 361% |
| Mathematics | $0 | N/A |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $0 | N/A |
Peer Comparison
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.