College ROI

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Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA 10,085 Undergrads 91.3% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$89,493
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$41,704
After Aid
Median Earnings
$96,145
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$41,704
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$96,145
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$103,937
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate91.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age19.5
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients13.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time97.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS89.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
16.4%
SAT Avg
1,507
SAT Reading
25th: 71072575th: 760
SAT Math
25th: 73075075th: 780
ACT Composite
25th: 333475th: 35

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
+$814k
+$347k
+$329k
Median Cost$42k/yr
+$663k
+$197k
+$179k
Full Cost$89k/yr
+$491k
+$25k
+$7k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
26
∞
Median Cost$42k/yr
35
119%
Full Cost$89k/yr
62
2%
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 Return95%

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-38%
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
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$126,461
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$409k
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$75,274
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$83,614
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Median Debt
$18,125
Earnings (4yr)
$123,144
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$384k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (2yr)
$51,273
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,223
Earnings (4yr)
$76,328
Natl Median: $50,523
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$83,586
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$143,204
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$535k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$397k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$121,337
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$370k
Median Debt
$18,940
Earnings (4yr)
$70,141
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$132,903
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
+$457k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$147,746
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$569k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,382
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$321k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$18,997
Earnings (4yr)
$80,073
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Median Debt
$16,803
Earnings (4yr)
$131,090
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$444k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$91,874
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$126,475
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$409k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$106,353
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$257k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$111,072
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$293k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,200
Earnings (4yr)
$82,861
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
Natural Sciences
BachCIP: 3018
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,935
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$97,519
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
+$190k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$86,537
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$70,033
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$94,867
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$169k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$84,188
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,169
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$70,121
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$61,719
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,535
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$118,957
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$329k
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
$55,000
Earnings (4yr)
$152,252
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$617k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$89,051
Natl Median: $89,051
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,499
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$71,427
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$29,642
Earnings (4yr)
$71,676
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,232
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$40,346
Earnings (4yr)
$64,159
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$151,547
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
+$611k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,787
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,445
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$58,845
Earnings (4yr)
$68,060
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,024
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
MastCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $60,272
Lifetime Value Added
-$519k
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
$63,861
Earnings (4yr)
$117,616
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$317k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,216
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$51,250
Earnings (4yr)
$71,957
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,459
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,791
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,576
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (4yr)
$73,955
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$134,796
Natl Median: $101,928
Lifetime Value Added
+$466k
Median Debt
$30,860
Earnings (4yr)
$64,786
Natl Median: $61,300
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k

Doctoral Degrees

Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$69,338
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
-$263k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$76,460
Natl Median: $83,031
Lifetime Value Added
-$208k
Economics
DocCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $135,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$174,350
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$492k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,550
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,831
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $144,778
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
DocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,550
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
DocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
DocCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,449
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,153
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,908
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,129
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,410
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,860
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
DocCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
DocCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$69,338
Natl Median: $71,982
Lifetime Value Added
-$263k

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$123,000
Earnings (4yr)
$190,940
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$613k

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.