College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Austin College

Sherman, TX 1,125 Undergrads 69.6% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$59,654
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$23,451
After Aid
Median Earnings
$61,296
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$23,451
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$61,296
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate69.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients30.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS73.7%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
46.7%
SAT Avg
1,272
SAT Reading
25th: 59062075th: 680
SAT Math
25th: 58061075th: 660
ACT Composite
25th: 262675th: 32

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
+$527k
+$131k
+$43k
Median Cost$23k/yr
+$443k
+$46k
-$42k
Full Cost$60k/yr
+$312k
-$84k
-$172k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
39
Median Cost$23k/yr
Never
-50%
Full Cost$60k/yr
Never
-80%
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-57%

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-79%
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

Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$24,277
Earnings (5yr)
$64,927
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$70,861
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,368
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,932
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,584
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$25,331
Earnings (5yr)
$51,010
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$279k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$25,142
Earnings (5yr)
$35,087
Lifetime Value Added
-$249k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$20,947
Earnings (5yr)
$47,828
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$24,900
Earnings (5yr)
$44,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$320k

Master's Degrees

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,439
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k

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.