College ROI

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Alfred University

Alfred, NY 1,401 Undergrads 62.0% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$54,516
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$22,701
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,897
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$22,701
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$54,897
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate62.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients39.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS67.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
48.3%
SAT Avg
1,205
SAT Reading
25th: 54058575th: 640
SAT Math
25th: 56060075th: 640
ACT Composite
25th: 242575th: 31

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
+$477k
+$80k
-$8k
Median Cost$23k/yr
+$395k
-$2k
-$89k
Full Cost$55k/yr
+$280k
-$116k
-$204k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$23k/yr
Never
-109%
Full Cost$55k/yr
Never
-104%
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-98%

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-88%
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
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,591
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,856
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$61,219
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$24,776
Earnings (5yr)
$52,309
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Ceramic Sciences and Engineering
BachCIP: 1406
Median Debt
$26,394
Earnings (2yr)
$55,964
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,996
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$22,625
Earnings (5yr)
$43,102
Lifetime Value Added
-$178k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$22,329
Lifetime Value Added
-$344k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$35,338
Lifetime Value Added
-$244k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,759
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$82,912
Lifetime Value Added
+$134k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,328
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (5yr)
$51,248
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k

Master's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,764
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$32,196
Earnings (5yr)
$63,050
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,667
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,121
Lifetime Value Added
-$258k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,261
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$19,140
Earnings (5yr)
$80,741
Lifetime Value Added
+$232k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$24,864
Earnings (5yr)
$80,049
Lifetime Value Added
+$226k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$92,053
Lifetime Value Added
+$329k

Doctoral Degrees

Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
DocCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$72,375
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, 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.