College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Albright College

Reading, PA 1,296 Undergrads 57.2% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$44,381
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$21,664
After Aid
Median Earnings
$58,700
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$21,664
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$58,700
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate57.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients51.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time93.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.2%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
86.2%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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
+$507k
+$110k
+$22k
Median Cost$22k/yr
+$429k
+$32k
-$56k
Full Cost$44k/yr
+$347k
-$49k
-$137k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
45
Median Cost$22k/yr
Never
-71%
Full Cost$44k/yr
Never
-86%
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 Return-64%

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-77%
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
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$76,251
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,645
Lifetime Value Added
+$240
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$65,591
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$65,025
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$64,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
BachCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,623
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,684
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,856
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,848
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$44,395
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,977
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$44,043
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,991
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$85,995
Lifetime Value Added
+$161k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$234k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$26,596
Earnings (5yr)
$51,883
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$57,087
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k

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.