College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Bethel University

Mishawaka, IN 1,069 Undergrads 62.5% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$42,276
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$19,726
After Aid
Median Earnings
$48,860
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$19,726
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$48,860
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate62.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients37.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time92.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS75.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
98.7%
SAT Avg
1,073
SAT Reading
25th: 470-75th: 600
SAT Math
25th: 470-75th: 590
ACT Composite
25th: 19-75th: 24

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
+$428k
+$32k
-$56k
Median Cost$20k/yr
+$357k
-$39k
-$127k
Full Cost$42k/yr
+$276k
-$121k
-$208k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$20k/yr
Never
-179%
Full Cost$42k/yr
Never
-137%
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-152%

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-98%
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

Associate's Degrees

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$75,349
Lifetime Value Added
+$235k

Bachelor's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (5yr)
$52,510
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,057
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,138
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k
Human Services, General
BachCIP: 4400
Median Debt
$31,228
Earnings (5yr)
$40,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$22,886
Earnings (5yr)
$55,228
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$27,476
Lifetime Value Added
-$286k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$26,779
Earnings (5yr)
$65,310
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$38,639
Lifetime Value Added
-$205k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,879
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$21,442
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k

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.