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Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA 9,865 Undergrads 91.4% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$83,683
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$39,866
After Aid
Median Earnings
$103,937
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$39,866
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$103,937
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate91.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients12.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS89.9%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
15.7%
SAT Avg
1,501
SAT Reading
25th: 71072575th: 760
SAT Math
25th: 72075075th: 780
ACT Composite
25th: 333475th: 34
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
+$842k
+$446k
+$358k
Median Cost$40k/yr
+$699k
+$302k
+$214k
Full Cost$84k/yr
+$541k
+$145k
+$57k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
26
∞
Median Cost$40k/yr
33
149%
Full Cost$84k/yr
50
19%
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 Return126%
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-28%
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
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$122,243
Lifetime Value Added
+$366k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$76,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$80,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$18,125
Earnings (5yr)
$94,664
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (2yr)
$51,273
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
BachCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$17,223
Earnings (5yr)
$68,755
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$81,317
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$155,305
Lifetime Value Added
+$610k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$390k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$112,774
Lifetime Value Added
+$295k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$18,940
Earnings (5yr)
$70,856
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$135,373
Lifetime Value Added
+$463k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$314k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$18,997
Earnings (5yr)
$72,601
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$16,803
Earnings (5yr)
$132,170
Lifetime Value Added
+$439k
International/Global Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$81,227
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$113,453
Lifetime Value Added
+$301k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$113,093
Lifetime Value Added
+$298k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$17,200
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$299k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$56,428
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$90,434
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$74,848
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$97,435
Lifetime Value Added
+$181k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$84,188
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (5yr)
$83,459
Lifetime Value Added
+$76k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$66,826
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$110,260
Lifetime Value Added
+$454k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$55,000
Earnings (5yr)
$177,630
Lifetime Value Added
+$1026k
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
MastCIP: 5204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$89,051
Lifetime Value Added
+$272k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$64,269
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$29,642
Earnings (5yr)
$78,101
Lifetime Value Added
+$178k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$40,346
Earnings (5yr)
$65,083
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Finance and Financial Management Services
MastCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$182,242
Lifetime Value Added
+$1065k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,640
Lifetime Value Added
+$105k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$58,845
Earnings (5yr)
$67,189
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Philosophy
MastCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$300k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$63,861
Earnings (5yr)
$129,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$617k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$51,250
Earnings (5yr)
$70,225
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,475
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$51,273
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,087
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (5yr)
$71,276
Lifetime Value Added
+$119k
Theological and Ministerial Studies
MastCIP: 3906
Median Debt
$30,860
Earnings (5yr)
$60,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Doctoral Degrees
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$69,338
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Curriculum and Instruction
DocCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$76,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$146,147
Lifetime Value Added
+$486k
Theological and Ministerial Studies
DocCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$69,338
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Professional Degrees
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$123,000
Earnings (5yr)
$175,793
Lifetime Value Added
+$700k
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.