College ROI

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Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science

Los Angeles, CA 282 Undergrads 68.2% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$44,630
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$31,400
After Aid
Median Earnings
$85,233
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$31,400
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$85,233
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$79,596
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate68.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age28.5
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients57.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time78.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS79.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
38.7%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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
+$722k
+$251k
+$235k
Median Cost$31k/yr
+$609k
+$139k
+$122k
Full Cost$45k/yr
+$561k
+$91k
+$75k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
27
∞
Median Cost$31k/yr
37
108%
Full Cost$45k/yr
43
46%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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 Return178%

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-10%

Program ROI Analysis

These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (4yr)
$89,449
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$356k

Bachelor's Degrees

Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$69,338
Natl Median: $63,593
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$166,103
Earnings (4yr)
$144,783
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$572k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$40,420
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$40,500
Earnings (4yr)
$70,438
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Median Debt
$94,497
Earnings (4yr)
$146,374
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$586k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
$138,562
Earnings (4yr)
$187,932
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
+$1118k

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.