College ROI

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Binghamton University

Vestal, NY 14,655 Undergrads 82.8% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$30,345
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$21,620
After Aid
Median Earnings
$80,304
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$21,620
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$80,304
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$80,596
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate82.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age20.2
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients27.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time97.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS81.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
38.6%
SAT Avg
1,415
SAT Reading
25th: 67068575th: 740
SAT Math
25th: 67070575th: 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
+$693k
+$226k
+$208k
Median Cost$22k/yr
+$615k
+$148k
+$130k
Full Cost$30k/yr
+$583k
+$117k
+$99k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
28
∞
Median Cost$22k/yr
35
168%
Full Cost$30k/yr
38
91%
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 Return266%

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 Return23%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$106,323
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$329k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$20,587
Earnings (4yr)
$53,460
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,779
Earnings (4yr)
$64,737
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$66,816
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$94,859
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$242k
Median Debt
$15,875
Earnings (4yr)
$76,271
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
Median Debt
$16,875
Earnings (4yr)
$58,342
Natl Median: $66,697
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,167
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
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
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$117,721
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$415k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$126,183
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$479k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$47,945
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$81,040
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$136k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$99,397
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$276k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$64,555
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,337
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,579
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
Median Debt
$15,363
Earnings (4yr)
$115,013
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$395k
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (4yr)
$60,299
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$71,207
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,761
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$18,375
Earnings (4yr)
$65,984
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Median Debt
$16,650
Earnings (4yr)
$62,506
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$95,354
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$245k
Median Debt
$20,843
Earnings (4yr)
$54,215
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Median Debt
$16,808
Earnings (4yr)
$109,721
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$355k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (4yr)
$80,825
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$134k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (4yr)
$82,492
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$147k
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$89,650
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$202k
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
-$175k
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$72,955
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,353
Earnings (4yr)
$55,579
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$77,478
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$109k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (2yr)
$40,896
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$16,666
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$73,044
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$67,249
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Median Debt
$13,045
Earnings (4yr)
$108,691
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$347k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,300
Earnings (4yr)
$49,366
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Median Debt
$17,263
Earnings (4yr)
$66,841
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$64,797
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$113,379
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$317k
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,382
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
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 (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$118,876
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$365k
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$116,083
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$382k
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
$37,157
Earnings (4yr)
$63,511
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$117,876
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$357k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,009
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$209k
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
$30,641
Earnings (4yr)
$100,428
Natl Median: $119,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$204k
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
$20,213
Earnings (4yr)
$101,600
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$215k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,515
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$28,500
Earnings (4yr)
$83,478
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$123,308
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$404k
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,443
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$63,907
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$39,539
Earnings (4yr)
$59,933
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Systems Engineering
MastCIP: 1427
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $144,565
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$33,559
Earnings (4yr)
$104,395
Natl Median: $111,527
Lifetime Value Added
+$239k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,719
Earnings (4yr)
$57,703
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
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.