College ROI

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Abilene Christian University-Undergraduate Online

Addison, TX 1,219 Undergrads - Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$24,856
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,741
After Aid
Median Earnings
$59,953
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$16,741
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$59,953
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$61,376
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate-
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age19.9
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients58.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time77.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS72.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

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
+$529k
+$58k
+$42k
Median Cost$17k/yr
+$468k
-$2k
-$18k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$439k
-$31k
-$47k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
39
∞
Median Cost$17k/yr
Never
-30%
Full Cost$25k/yr
Never
-53%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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 Return1%

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 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-51%

Program ROI Analysis

These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →

Bachelor's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202

Earnings shared by 2 Abilene Christian University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$21,375
Earnings (4yr)
$63,259
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901

Earnings shared by 2 Abilene Christian University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,202
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102

Earnings shared by 2 Abilene Christian University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$19,437
Earnings (4yr)
$70,864
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,741
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$237k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907

Earnings shared by 2 Abilene Christian University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$50,525
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214

Earnings shared by 2 Abilene Christian University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$15,375
Earnings (4yr)
$65,244
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099

Earnings shared by 2 Abilene Christian University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$51,695
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201

Earnings shared by 2 Abilene Christian University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$25,654
Earnings (4yr)
$51,705
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138

Earnings shared by 2 Abilene Christian University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$89,079
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$217k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105

Earnings shared by 2 Abilene Christian University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$62,645
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), 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 decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.