College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Allegheny College

Meadville, PA 1,209 Undergrads 74.0% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$70,614
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$21,900
After Aid
Median Earnings
$62,069
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$21,900
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$62,069
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate74.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients27.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time95.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
58.5%
SAT Avg
1,292
SAT Reading
25th: 60063075th: 690
SAT Math
25th: 54061575th: 660
ACT Composite
25th: 252675th: 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
+$533k
+$137k
+$49k
Median Cost$22k/yr
+$454k
+$58k
-$30k
Full Cost$71k/yr
+$279k
-$118k
-$206k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
38
Median Cost$22k/yr
Never
-38%
Full Cost$71k/yr
Never
-81%
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-59%

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-81%
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

Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$68,667
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$62,082
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$26,750
Earnings (5yr)
$71,243
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$47,913
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,925
Lifetime Value Added
-$244k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$55,059
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$30,409
Lifetime Value Added
-$267k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$43,314
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,086
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
BachCIP: 2615
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,858
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$75,370
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$60,817
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,744
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$57,042
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k

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.