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Abilene Christian University
Abilene, TX 3,129 Undergrads 62.7% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$56,121
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$27,401
After Aid
Median Earnings
$55,736
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$27,401
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$55,736
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate62.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients23.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time97.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.1%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
63.9%
SAT Avg
1,189
SAT Reading
25th: 54058575th: 650
SAT Math
25th: 52057575th: 640
ACT Composite
25th: 222575th: 28
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$483k
+$87k
-$1k
Median Cost$27k/yr
+$385k
-$12k
-$100k
Full Cost$56k/yr
+$281k
-$115k
-$203k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$27k/yr
Never
-84%
Full Cost$56k/yr
Never
-83%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return8%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 2%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return39%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$91,013
Lifetime Value Added
+$178k
Bible/Biblical Studies
BachCIP: 3902
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,173
Lifetime Value Added
-$289k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$25,625
Earnings (5yr)
$51,357
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$58,208
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$15,100
Earnings (5yr)
$55,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,741
Lifetime Value Added
-$275k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$21,875
Earnings (2yr)
$20,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$375k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$22,375
Earnings (5yr)
$93,291
Lifetime Value Added
+$195k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$21,375
Earnings (5yr)
$56,650
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$43,121
Lifetime Value Added
-$195k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$22,864
Earnings (5yr)
$60,595
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,473
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (5yr)
$50,832
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$222k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$24,850
Earnings (5yr)
$75,745
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$51,741
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$49,638
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$55,185
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$91,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$315k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$63,621
Earnings (5yr)
$61,884
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$54,837
Earnings (5yr)
$64,715
Lifetime Value Added
+$85k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$65,522
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$57,049
Earnings (2yr)
$32,029
Lifetime Value Added
-$205k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
MastCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$40,875
Earnings (5yr)
$85,202
Lifetime Value Added
+$262k
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
MastCIP: 3005
Median Debt
$40,999
Earnings (5yr)
$63,815
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,585
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Graduate Certificates
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
Gr-CertCIP: 3005
Median Debt
$33,823
Earnings (5yr)
$68,059
Lifetime Value Added
+$196k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.