College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Augustana College

Rock Island, IL 2,418 Undergrads 77.5% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$60,798
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,437
After Aid
Median Earnings
$62,971
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$12,437
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$62,971
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate77.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients22.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS79.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
67.7%
SAT Avg
1,133
SAT Reading
25th: 500-75th: 620
SAT Math
25th: 510-75th: 630
ACT Composite
25th: 21-75th: 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
+$540k
+$143k
+$56k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$495k
+$99k
+$11k
Full Cost$61k/yr
+$321k
-$75k
-$163k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
37
Median Cost$12k/yr
55
24%
Full Cost$61k/yr
Never
-75%
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-47%

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-76%
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
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$80,334
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$63,514
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$72,234
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$26,375
Earnings (5yr)
$63,279
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$63,128
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$76,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,518
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$77,027
Lifetime Value Added
+$127k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$26,759
Earnings (5yr)
$45,611
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$240k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,025
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs
BachCIP: 5111
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$60,119
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (2yr)
$44,942
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,937
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$47,186
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
BachCIP: 2615
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$60,107
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$60,666
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$57,918
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$22,087
Lifetime Value Added
-$309k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$55,297
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$26,497
Earnings (5yr)
$47,770
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$53,637
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k

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.