College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Belmont Abbey College

Belmont, NC 1,276 Undergrads 45.9% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$34,788
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$24,639
After Aid
Median Earnings
$57,346
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$24,639
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$57,346
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate45.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients26.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time96.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS71.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
74.7%
SAT Avg
1,099
SAT Reading
25th: 49057675th: 610
SAT Math
25th: 47054275th: 590
ACT Composite
25th: 182275th: 26

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
+$514k
+$47k
+$30k
Median Cost$25k/yr
+$426k
-$41k
-$59k
Full Cost$35k/yr
+$389k
-$78k
-$95k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
43
Median Cost$25k/yr
Never
-66%
Full Cost$35k/yr
Never
-76%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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-44%

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-68%
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
$25,982
Earnings (4yr)
$74,698
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$22,287
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$26,125
Earnings (4yr)
$70,655
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,235
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$44,460
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$325k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,730
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$329k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$28,500
Earnings (4yr)
$60,199
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management
BachCIP: 3103
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$45,824
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$162k
Religious Education
BachCIP: 3904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,633
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$45,008
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$162k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$46,372
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Theological and Ministerial Studies
BachCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,535
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 degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.