College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Allegheny College

Meadville, PA 1,156 Undergrads 70.5% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$71,348
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$22,940
After Aid
Median Earnings
$56,294
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$22,940
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$56,294
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$62,069
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate70.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age19.5
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients27.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time96.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
54.6%
SAT Avg
1,275
SAT Reading
25th: 61063075th: 690
SAT Math
25th: 56361575th: 668
ACT Composite
25th: 252675th: 30

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
+$506k
+$39k
+$21k
Median Cost$23k/yr
+$423k
-$44k
-$61k
Full Cost$71k/yr
+$249k
-$218k
-$235k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
46
Median Cost$23k/yr
Never
-74%
Full Cost$71k/yr
Never
-92%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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-79%

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-86%
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

Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,989
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,366
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Community Organization and Advocacy
BachCIP: 4402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,936
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$86,069
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$26,750
Earnings (4yr)
$79,018
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$116k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$51,381
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,925
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$248k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1605
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,454
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$30,409
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$271k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$43,314
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$51,265
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
BachCIP: 2615
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,858
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$75,370
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,241
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$48,890
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$64,595
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Religion/Religious Studies
BachCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$57,042
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k

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. 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.