College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Alvernia University

Reading, PA 2,042 Undergrads 63.1% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$54,650
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$28,329
After Aid
Median Earnings
$55,055
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$28,329
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$55,055
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate63.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients32.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time84.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS78.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
62.3%
SAT Avg
1,160
SAT Reading
25th: 528-75th: 620
SAT Math
25th: 538-75th: 633
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
+$478k
+$81k
-$6k
Median Cost$28k/yr
+$376k
-$21k
-$108k
Full Cost$55k/yr
+$281k
-$115k
-$203k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$28k/yr
Never
-106%
Full Cost$55k/yr
Never
-103%
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-97%

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
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$66,067
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$70,877
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,967
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$57,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$338k
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
BachCIP: 5100
Median Debt
$26,911
Earnings (5yr)
$50,786
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,739
Lifetime Value Added
-$324k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,506
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$32,167
Earnings (5yr)
$46,595
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,525
Lifetime Value Added
-$161k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$89,545
Lifetime Value Added
+$163k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$28,125
Earnings (5yr)
$49,329
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,987
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,959
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$37,677
Earnings (5yr)
$90,616
Lifetime Value Added
+$307k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,823
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
MastCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,674
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,338
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$65,711
Earnings (5yr)
$74,704
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k

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.