College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Binghamton University

Vestal, NY 14,655 Undergrads 82.8% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$30,939
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$20,907
After Aid
Median Earnings
$83,991
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$20,907
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$83,991
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$89,136
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate82.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)20.2
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients29.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time97.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS82.7%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
38.6%
SAT Avg
1,415
SAT Reading
25th: 67070075th: 740
SAT Math
25th: 67071075th: 760
ACT Composite
25th: 303275th: 32

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
+$712k
+$242k
+$226k
Median Cost$21k/yr
+$637k
+$167k
+$151k
Full Cost$31k/yr
+$601k
+$131k
+$115k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
27
∞
Median Cost$21k/yr
33
200%
Full Cost$31k/yr
37
103%
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 Return285%

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 Return26%

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

Median Debt
$14,250
Earnings (4yr)
$106,323
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$334k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$17,746
Earnings (4yr)
$53,460
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,737
Earnings (4yr)
$64,737
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$66,816
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$94,859
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$246k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$76,271
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$18,902
Earnings (4yr)
$55,167
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,600
Earnings (4yr)
$117,721
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$420k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$126,183
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$484k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,945
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$17,414
Earnings (4yr)
$81,040
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$24,375
Earnings (4yr)
$99,397
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$281k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$17,156
Earnings (4yr)
$64,555
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,420
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$46,579
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$115,013
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$399k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$15,875
Earnings (4yr)
$60,299
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,207
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,761
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$15,893
Earnings (4yr)
$65,984
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$62,506
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$18,257
Earnings (4yr)
$95,354
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$250k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,215
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$109,721
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$359k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (4yr)
$80,825
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$139k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$82,492
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$89,650
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$206k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,941
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$40,485
Natl Median: $67,612
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$15,750
Earnings (4yr)
$72,955
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,579
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$77,478
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$113k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$40,896
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$78,145
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$18,453
Earnings (4yr)
$73,044
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$17,250
Earnings (4yr)
$67,249
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$108,691
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$352k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,366
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$15,691
Earnings (4yr)
$66,841
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$64,797
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Try this program with your own numbers →

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$113,379
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$320k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$30,798
Earnings (4yr)
$60,382
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,936
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$112,389
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
+$292k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$118,876
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$367k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$116,083
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$384k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$35,543
Earnings (4yr)
$63,511
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$45,696
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$271k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$100,428
Natl Median: $119,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$206k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,282
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$101,600
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$217k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
MastCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$83,478
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$42,045
Earnings (4yr)
$123,308
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$406k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$63,907
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,933
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$104,395
Natl Median: $111,527
Lifetime Value Added
+$241k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$25,352
Earnings (4yr)
$57,703
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
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.