College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Clark Atlanta University

Atlanta, GA 3,482 Undergrads 43.7% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$40,924
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$35,115
After Aid
Median Earnings
$42,712
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$35,115
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$42,712
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate43.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients69.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time97.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS46.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
64.6%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: -49775th: -
SAT Math
25th: -46075th: -
ACT Composite
25th: -1975th: -

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
+$378k
-$19k
-$107k
Median Cost$35k/yr
+$251k
-$145k
-$233k
Full Cost$41k/yr
+$230k
-$166k
-$254k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$35k/yr
Never
-184%
Full Cost$41k/yr
Never
-172%
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-211%

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-111%
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
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$244k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,164
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$55,077
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,054
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (5yr)
$28,479
Lifetime Value Added
-$347k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$26,939
Lifetime Value Added
-$361k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,507
Lifetime Value Added
-$178k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$41,243
Lifetime Value Added
-$238k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,398
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,941
Lifetime Value Added
-$256k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$57,519
Earnings (2yr)
$66,889
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$199k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$56,556
Earnings (2yr)
$36,401
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$75,507
Earnings (5yr)
$56,916
Lifetime Value Added
+$144
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k

Doctoral Degrees

Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$67,660
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k

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.