College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Centre College

Danville, KY 1,400 Undergrads 84.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$67,787
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$20,781
After Aid
Median Earnings
$64,933
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$20,781
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$64,933
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$66,240
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate84.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age19.4
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients22.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS78.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
54.4%
SAT Avg
1,352
SAT Reading
25th: 59065075th: 720
SAT Math
25th: 57070075th: 730
ACT Composite
25th: 253075th: 32

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
+$575k
+$108k
+$90k
Median Cost$21k/yr
+$500k
+$33k
+$16k
Full Cost$68k/yr
+$331k
-$136k
-$154k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
33
Median Cost$21k/yr
53
21%
Full Cost$68k/yr
Never
-63%
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 Return-27%

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-72%
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

Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$52,319
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$93,000
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$75,885
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,580
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1605
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$51,094
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,531
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,170
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,226
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Religion/Religious Studies
BachCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Research and Experimental Psychology
BachCIP: 4227
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$23,480
Earnings (2yr)
$33,809
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$232k
Sociology and Anthropology
BachCIP: 4513
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$60,664
Natl Median: $46,959
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k

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. 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.