Westfield State University
Comprehensive ROI analysis based on tuition costs, graduate earnings, financial aid, and long-term earning potential.
ROI Summary
Total 4-Year Cost
$47,528
In-state tuition x 4
Earnings Premium
$11,861/yr
vs high school diploma avg
Break-Even Point
4 years
After graduation
20-Year ROI
399%
Return on investment
ROI Analysis
Westfield State University's in-state tuition costs $11,882. One year after graduation, alumni earn a median of $40,719. Five years after graduation, earnings increase to $46,861, and after ten years, earnings reach $57,346. The median debt for graduates is $22,457, and 54.5% of students receive financial aid.
The debt-to-income ratio, calculated by dividing the median debt by the first-year earnings, is approximately 0.55. This indicates that the median debt is about 55% of the first-year earnings.
Based on the provided data, the break-even timeline, which is the time it takes for the cumulative earnings to surpass the tuition cost, is less than one year.
Generated from College Scorecard & IPEDS data
The Numbers
Annual Tuition (In-State)
$11,882
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,457
Median Earnings (5yr)
$46,861
Graduation Rate
57%
Receive Financial Aid
55%
Avg Aid Amount
$0
Program-Level ROI
| Program | 4yr Cost | Median Earnings (5yr) | Est. 20yr ROI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business/Commerce, General. | $47,528 | $56,699 | 813% |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | $47,528 | $60,570 | 976% |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | $47,528 | $43,355 | 252% |
| Psychology, General. | $47,528 | $44,155 | 285% |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | $47,528 | $42,954 | 235% |
| Social Work. | $47,528 | $60,582 | 977% |
| Communication and Media Studies. | $47,528 | $45,172 | 328% |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness. | $47,528 | $48,343 | 461% |
| Biology, General. | $47,528 | $49,803 | 523% |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | $47,528 | $84,941 | 2002% |
| Social Work. | $47,528 | $48,979 | 488% |
| Special Education and Teaching. | $47,528 | $45,141 | 327% |
Peer Comparison
399%
20yr ROI
479%
20yr ROI
441%
20yr ROI
737%
20yr ROI
843%
20yr ROI
Financial Aid Impact
Before Aid
After Aid (Estimated)
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.