Private nonprofit · COLLEGE PAYOFF

Valparaiso University

Valparaiso, IN · 31 reportable field-and-credential outcomes

MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff

−$53,712 over 10 years

Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.

At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.

12.7 yrsModeled economic break-even
−21%Modeled 10-year ROI
$65,060Observed earnings · year 5
Economic ROI includes direct price and earnings forgone during study · $45,000 comparison earnings · values held flat · see the formula
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK

Estimated payoff over ten years.

The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.

10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
−$53,712at year 10
Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
−$254,3120
2
4
6
8
−$53,71210
Years after graduationBreak-even: 12.7 years
FEDERAL COST DATA

Four ways to read college price.

Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.

Published in-state tuition$48,450
Sticker price
Published out-of-state tuition$48,450
Sticker price
Average net price$18,578
Title IV student average
Cost of attendance$58,437
Tuition + living budget
PRICE SOURCECollege reported · annual amount · federal dataset
OBSERVED FEDERAL MEASURES

Cost, completion and earnings context

$18,578Average net price / year
$58,437Cost of attendance
$65,060Median earnings · year 5 after completion
70.4%Completion rate
89.4%Admission rate
2,083Student size
NATIONAL CONTEXT

How this college compares

Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.

86thEarnings percentile
68thCompletion percentile
EARNINGS PATH

Reported earnings over time

$53,991Year 1
$69,228Year 4
$65,060Year 5

Separate federal cohorts may underlie different measurement years.

PROGRAM PAYOFF SPREAD

The college average is not the whole story.

Observed earnings vary substantially by field and credential at the same institution.

1Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · First Professional Degree$119,4002Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General · Bachelor's Degree$115,0953Computer Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$96,0794Computer Science · Bachelor's Degree$94,1115Mechanical Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$90,5836Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$87,9447Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods · Bachelor's Degree$86,3178Business Administration, Management and Operations · Master's Degree$85,511

Observed year-4 earnings · compare like fields and credentials before deciding

BUILD A REAL SHORTLIST

Comparable colleges in IN

Currently operating private nonprofit institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive—not a quality ranking.

Plymouth, IN

Marian University-Ancilla

Annual net price
$19,463
Observed earnings · year 5
$64,193
Modeled 10-year ROI
-26%
Open college profile →
Marion, IN

Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global

Annual net price
$16,898
Observed earnings · year 5
$67,044
Modeled 10-year ROI
-11%
Open college profile →
Greencastle, IN

DePauw University

Annual net price
$22,264
Observed earnings · year 5
$65,357
Modeled 10-year ROI
-24%
Open college profile →
Fort Wayne, IN

University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne

Annual net price
$18,196
Observed earnings · year 5
$61,181
Modeled 10-year ROI
-36%
Open college profile →
ALL REPORTABLE PROGRAM CATEGORIES

Explore exact field-and-credential outcomes

Federal fieldCredentialEarnings, year 4Federal debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingFirst Professional Degree$119,400Not available
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, GeneralBachelor's Degree$115,095$19,500
Computer EngineeringBachelor's Degree$96,079$27,000
Computer ScienceBachelor's Degree$94,111$27,000
Mechanical EngineeringBachelor's Degree$90,583$27,000
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringBachelor's Degree$87,944$27,000
Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsBachelor's Degree$86,317Not available
Business Administration, Management and OperationsMaster's Degree$85,511Not available
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBachelor's Degree$81,278$27,366
Civil EngineeringBachelor's Degree$80,173$27,000
Business Administration, Management and OperationsBachelor's Degree$78,163$27,000
LawFirst Professional Degree$74,338Not available
Finance and Financial Management ServicesBachelor's Degree$73,880$26,613
Accounting and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree$71,848$27,000
MarketingBachelor's Degree$66,773$27,000
CriminologyBachelor's Degree$63,772$27,000
ChemistryBachelor's Degree$62,245$27,000
MathematicsBachelor's Degree$61,564Not available
Biology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$61,072$27,000
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesBachelor's Degree$60,612Not available
Atmospheric Sciences and MeteorologyBachelor's Degree$60,092$27,000
Psychology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$58,104$27,000
Social WorkBachelor's Degree$57,609$27,000
Political Science and GovernmentBachelor's Degree$56,054$27,000
Health and Medical Administrative ServicesBachelor's Degree$55,485$28,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasBachelor's Degree$54,933$27,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsBachelor's Degree$53,495$27,000
English Language and Literature, GeneralBachelor's Degree$52,439Not available
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsBachelor's Degree$50,588$26,900
Communication and Media StudiesBachelor's Degree$50,325$27,000
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessBachelor's Degree$47,644$27,000

Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.