Is Your College Investment Worth It?
Only about 1 in 5 four-year programs deliver a positive return at full price. Most leave you worse off financially.
Don’t leave your future to chance.
The College Investment Challenge
College is no longer just an education decision, it’s a major financial investment that requires due diligence and careful analysis.
Rising Costs
College costs have outpaced inflation by 90% to 150% since 1990, while median wages rose only about 10%.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor, Census Bureau, College Board, Shivamber Analysis
Mounting Debt
The average student loan debt is $38,375 per borrower, with total U.S. student debt at $1.7 trillion.
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Shivamber Analysis
Uncertain Returns
79% of four-year institutions fail to deliver a positive return at full price, and 58% fail even at the median net cost after aid.
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Shivamber Analysis
The Reality of College Investments
Most analysis of college value are fundamentally flawed. They do not consider the time value of money, taxes, costs to attend college and opportunity cost.
These are the charts everyone talks about…
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey (IPUMS); BLS Consumer Price Index; NY Federal Reserve; Georgetown University CEW; Shivamber Analysis.
This is the one we should discuss!
$82,371 High School Take-Home Advantage. After cost, time, and taxes, the median high school graduate keeps $82,371 more than the median four-year bachelor\’s graduate.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey (IPUMS); BLS Consumer Price Index; NY Federal Reserve; Georgetown University CEW; Shivamber Analysis.
A Better Approach to College ROI
The maximum value of college depends on the careful selection of the right combination of College, cost of attendance, and major field of study.
Making Smarter Choices in your College Investments
At College ROI, we help families make data-driven decisions by analyzing the true return on investment of college options. Our approach considers:
- Time Value of Money (a dollar today is worth more than tomorrow)
- Tax implications and their impact on different career paths
- Opportunity cost of attending college versus alternatives
- Program specific outcomes rather than general averages
This comprehensive analysis helps you avoid the subpar college programs that deliver negative returns, while identifying the opportunities with your highest potential. The full reasoning is laid out in the complete argument and in the book, with a free sample chapter to start.