College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Anderson University

Anderson, IN 1,070 Undergrads 59.1% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$49,098
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$22,144
After Aid
Median Earnings
$48,899
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$22,144
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$48,899
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate59.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients36.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time95.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
53.4%
SAT Avg
1,054
SAT Reading
25th: 48053075th: 590
SAT Math
25th: 46053075th: 580
ACT Composite
25th: 162275th: 23

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
+$428k
+$32k
-$56k
Median Cost$22k/yr
+$349k
-$48k
-$136k
Full Cost$49k/yr
+$252k
-$145k
-$233k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$22k/yr
Never
-170%
Full Cost$49k/yr
Never
-132%
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-144%

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-98%
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

Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$56,152
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$23,649
Lifetime Value Added
-$330k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$24,751
Earnings (5yr)
$49,520
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$275k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$27,094
Earnings (2yr)
$28,055
Lifetime Value Added
-$289k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$54,204
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$41,705
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$71,050
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,511
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$26,851
Earnings (5yr)
$45,495
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$29,524
Earnings (5yr)
$49,663
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$31,107
Earnings (5yr)
$87,330
Lifetime Value Added
+$290k
Theological and Ministerial Studies
MastCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k

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.