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Private nonprofit · COLLEGE PAYOFF

Pacific Lutheran University

⌖ Tacoma, WA · 24 reportable field-and-credential outcomes

MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff

−$81,676 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.

14.6 yrsModeled economic break-even
−32%Modeled 10-year ROI
$62,668Observed 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
−$81,676at year 10
Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
−$258,3560
2
4
6
8
−$81,67610
Years after graduationBreak-even: 14.6 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$52,254
Sticker price
Published out-of-state tuition$52,254
Sticker price
Average net price$19,589
Title IV student average
Cost of attendance$62,459
Tuition + living budget
PRICE SOURCECollege reported · annual amount · federal dataset
OBSERVED FEDERAL MEASURES

Cost, completion and earnings context

$19,589Average net price / year
$62,459Cost of attendance
$62,668Median earnings · year 5 after completion
68.6%Completion rate
78.0%Admission rate
2,401Student size
NATIONAL CONTEXT

How this college compares

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

83thEarnings percentile
65thCompletion percentile
EARNINGS PATH

Reported earnings over time

$45,409Year 1
$63,671Year 4
$62,668Year 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.

1Computer and Information Sciences, General · Bachelor's Degree$128,7032Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Master's Degree$101,3353Business Administration, Management and Operations · Master's Degree$100,6844Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Bachelor's Degree$91,5285Mathematics · Bachelor's Degree$78,0566Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods · Master's Degree$77,1987Business Administration, Management and Operations · Bachelor's Degree$75,5768Political Science and Government · Bachelor's Degree$69,366

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

BUILD A REAL SHORTLIST

Comparable colleges in WA

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.

Yakima, WA

Perry Technical Institute

Annual net price
$20,047
Observed earnings · year 5
$61,859
Modeled 10-year ROI
-35%
Open college profile →Kirkland, WA

Northwest University

Annual net price
$22,288
Observed earnings · year 5
$64,391
Modeled 10-year ROI
-28%
Open college profile →Toppenish, WA

Heritage University

Annual net price
$14,598
Observed earnings · year 5
$60,934
Modeled 10-year ROI
-33%
Open college profile →Seattle, WA

Seattle Pacific University

Annual net price
$24,488
Observed earnings · year 5
$67,175
Modeled 10-year ROI
-20%
Open college profile →
ALL REPORTABLE PROGRAM CATEGORIES

Explore exact field-and-credential outcomes

Federal fieldCredentialEarnings, year 4Federal debt
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralBachelor's Degree$128,703$23,534
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingMaster's Degree$101,335Not available
Business Administration, Management and OperationsMaster's Degree$100,684Not available
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBachelor's Degree$91,528$29,000
MathematicsBachelor's Degree$78,056$20,427
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsMaster's Degree$77,198Not available
Business Administration, Management and OperationsBachelor's Degree$75,576$20,959
Political Science and GovernmentBachelor's Degree$69,366$20,250
Social WorkBachelor's Degree$67,458$26,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsBachelor's Degree$66,848$19,500
ChemistryBachelor's Degree$59,993$23,000
SociologyBachelor's Degree$59,853$21,000
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesBachelor's Degree$58,472Not available
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied ProfessionsMaster's Degree$58,052Not available
Communication and Media StudiesBachelor's Degree$57,317$25,499
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherBachelor's Degree$55,178$20,500
Psychology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$55,118$22,500
Biology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$53,077$22,626
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessBachelor's Degree$52,113$25,536
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftBachelor's Degree$44,459$24,125
HistoryBachelor's Degree$43,685Not available
Fine and Studio ArtsBachelor's Degree$43,650$25,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasBachelor's DegreeNot available$29,740
MusicBachelor's DegreeNot available$26,815

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.