College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Anderson University

Anderson, SC 3,080 Undergrads 61.3% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$47,724
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$28,183
After Aid
Median Earnings
$42,101
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$28,183
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$42,101
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate61.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients23.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time97.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
52.8%
SAT Avg
1,190
SAT Reading
25th: 560-75th: 660
SAT Math
25th: 530-75th: 630
ACT Composite
25th: 22-75th: 28

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
+$373k
-$24k
-$112k
Median Cost$28k/yr
+$271k
-$125k
-$213k
Full Cost$48k/yr
+$201k
-$196k
-$283k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$28k/yr
Never
-210%
Full Cost$48k/yr
Never
-165%
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-200%

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-110%
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
$23,500
Earnings (5yr)
$67,897
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$27,500
Earnings (5yr)
$74,484
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,230
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$49,990
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$47,780
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (2yr)
$19,227
Lifetime Value Added
-$393k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,739
Lifetime Value Added
-$323k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$26,187
Earnings (5yr)
$44,656
Lifetime Value Added
-$185k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Human Services, General
BachCIP: 4400
Median Debt
$34,730
Earnings (5yr)
$37,273
Lifetime Value Added
-$247k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$50,695
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$38,485
Lifetime Value Added
-$237k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$257k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$72,141
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$257k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$43,168
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$42,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$201k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$34,707
Earnings (5yr)
$93,084
Lifetime Value Added
+$328k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$47,453
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$27,177
Earnings (5yr)
$66,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$103k

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.