College ROI

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Clarkson College

Omaha, NE 622 Undergrads 74.9% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$36,421
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$25,301
After Aid
Median Earnings
$70,603
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$25,301
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$70,603
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$70,928
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate74.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age26.2
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 Recipients41.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time30.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS88.4%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
78.2%
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
+$612k
+$142k
+$125k
Median Cost$25k/yr
+$521k
+$51k
+$34k
Full Cost$36k/yr
+$481k
+$11k
-$6k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
31
∞
Median Cost$25k/yr
47
38%
Full Cost$36k/yr
Never
-4%
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 Return83%

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-35%

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 →

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,477
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (4yr)
$73,376
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$223k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$20,790
Earnings (4yr)
$76,592
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$29,125
Earnings (4yr)
$81,508
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$128k

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $105,177
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$95,417
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$155k
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities
MastCIP: 5132
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,487
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$52,759
Earnings (4yr)
$122,735
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$393k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,117
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$134,099
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
+$621k

Doctoral Degrees

Education, Other
DocCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,635
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

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.