College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Bluffton University

Bluffton, OH 595 Undergrads 59.1% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$50,579
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$17,430
After Aid
Median Earnings
$49,547
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$17,430
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$49,547
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate59.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients39.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
61.2%
SAT Avg
1,020
SAT Reading
25th: 480-75th: 560
SAT Math
25th: 440-75th: 570
ACT Composite
25th: 17-75th: 23

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
+$434k
+$37k
-$51k
Median Cost$17k/yr
+$371k
-$26k
-$113k
Full Cost$51k/yr
+$252k
-$145k
-$233k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$17k/yr
Never
-181%
Full Cost$51k/yr
Never
-128%
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-138%

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-97%
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
-
Earnings (5yr)
$71,136
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$63,018
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$49,168
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,549
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,835
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,385
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,239
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$37,330
Earnings (5yr)
$85,046
Lifetime Value Added
+$279k

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.