College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Brenau University

Gainesville, GA 981 Undergrads 40.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$45,931
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$20,786
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,003
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$20,786
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$54,003
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate40.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients52.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time79.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS67.4%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
87.0%
SAT Avg
1,087
SAT Reading
25th: 51056075th: 590
SAT Math
25th: 48050575th: 580
ACT Composite
25th: 172375th: 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
+$469k
+$73k
-$15k
Median Cost$21k/yr
+$395k
-$2k
-$90k
Full Cost$46k/yr
+$304k
-$92k
-$180k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$21k/yr
Never
-120%
Full Cost$46k/yr
Never
-109%
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-105%

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-88%
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

Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$38,103
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$270k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$32,569
Lifetime Value Added
-$244k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$28,357
Earnings (5yr)
$106,944
Lifetime Value Added
+$321k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$33,035
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k

Master's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$43,570
Earnings (2yr)
$52,941
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$43,355
Earnings (5yr)
$81,252
Lifetime Value Added
+$240k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$56,275
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
Gerontology
MastCIP: 3011
Median Debt
$34,824
Earnings (5yr)
$55,265
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$53,606
Earnings (5yr)
$99,589
Lifetime Value Added
+$398k
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$47,834
Earnings (5yr)
$71,447
Lifetime Value Added
+$156k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$37,826
Earnings (5yr)
$60,671
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k

Professional Degrees

Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
ProfCIP: 5123
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,714
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k

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.