College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Clark University

Worcester, MA 2,336 Undergrads 76.9% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$64,426
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$27,711
After Aid
Median Earnings
$62,381
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$27,711
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$62,381
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate76.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients21.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS70.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
41.7%
SAT Avg
1,339
SAT Reading
25th: 64066675th: 710
SAT Math
25th: 60064575th: 690
ACT Composite
25th: 302975th: 33

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
+$535k
+$139k
+$51k
Median Cost$28k/yr
+$436k
+$39k
-$49k
Full Cost$64k/yr
+$304k
-$93k
-$181k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
38
∞
Median Cost$28k/yr
Never
-49%
Full Cost$64k/yr
Never
-78%
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-54%

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-79%
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

Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$26,010
Earnings (5yr)
$64,992
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,365
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$74,576
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$85,062
Lifetime Value Added
+$132k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$26,168
Earnings (5yr)
$41,952
Lifetime Value Added
-$206k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$15,552
Lifetime Value Added
-$425k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$26,870
Earnings (2yr)
$19,592
Lifetime Value Added
-$387k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$22,087
Lifetime Value Added
-$364k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
BachCIP: 5213
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,411
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$25,360
Earnings (5yr)
$55,687
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$25,875
Earnings (5yr)
$60,708
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$56,449
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Social Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 4599
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$63,593
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$23,889
Earnings (5yr)
$55,998
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k

Master's Degrees

Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,087
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$32,550
Earnings (5yr)
$100,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$390k
Communication and Media Studies
MastCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,423
Lifetime Value Added
-$212k
Community Organization and Advocacy
MastCIP: 4402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,494
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,053
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k
Geography and Cartography
MastCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$90,425
Lifetime Value Added
+$306k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
MastCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,057
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,812
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
Social Sciences, Other
MastCIP: 4599
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,299
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k

Doctoral Degrees

Geography and Cartography
DocCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k

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.