College ROI

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Barton College

Wilson, NC 982 Undergrads 56.0% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$52,859
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$24,367
After Aid
Median Earnings
$51,633
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$24,367
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$51,633
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$52,876
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate56.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)23.3
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients46.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time93.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS66.4%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
94.2%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

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
+$461k
-$9k
-$26k
Median Cost$24k/yr
+$373k
-$97k
-$113k
Full Cost$53k/yr
+$271k
-$200k
-$216k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$24k/yr
Never
-129%
Full Cost$53k/yr
Never
-113%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
  • 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-114%

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-92%

Program ROI Analysis

These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →

Bachelor's Degrees

Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (2yr)
$27,476
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$304k
Median Debt
$23,625
Earnings (4yr)
$55,125
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$20,824
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$365k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,281
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$251k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Gerontology
BachCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,228
Natl Median: $54,051
Lifetime Value Added
-$278k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$283k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$79,283
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$26,596
Earnings (5yr)
$49,242
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,064
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,559
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$18,261
Earnings (4yr)
$58,618
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), 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 decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.