College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Clemson University

Clemson, SC 23,300 Undergrads 85.2% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$35,250
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$22,032
After Aid
Median Earnings
$77,647
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$22,032
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$77,647
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$79,064
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate85.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)20.5
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients16.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time97.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS84.2%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
38.3%
SAT Avg
1,353
SAT Reading
25th: 62066075th: 700
SAT Math
25th: 62066075th: 710
ACT Composite
25th: 283175th: 32

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
+$665k
+$195k
+$178k
Median Cost$22k/yr
+$585k
+$115k
+$99k
Full Cost$35k/yr
+$538k
+$68k
+$52k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
29
∞
Median Cost$22k/yr
37
125%
Full Cost$35k/yr
45
41%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
  • 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 Return168%

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 →

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$84,458
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$163k
Median Debt
$20,040
Earnings (4yr)
$67,050
Natl Median: $66,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Median Debt
$22,875
Earnings (4yr)
$88,338
Natl Median: $84,624
Lifetime Value Added
+$192k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$51,582
Natl Median: $53,588
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$17,050
Earnings (4yr)
$47,853
Natl Median: $49,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,494
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$24,550
Earnings (4yr)
$63,892
Natl Median: $66,914
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$60,988
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$65,577
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Median Debt
$20,770
Earnings (4yr)
$93,705
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$233k
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$70,059
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$92,098
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$221k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$24,176
Earnings (4yr)
$67,996
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$84,873
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$166k
Median Debt
$20,451
Earnings (4yr)
$101,301
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$291k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$102,762
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$302k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$98,726
Natl Median: $95,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$272k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,133
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$66,150
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$18,215
Earnings (4yr)
$79,468
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
Median Debt
$22,125
Earnings (4yr)
$96,446
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$254k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$94,449
Natl Median: $89,619
Lifetime Value Added
+$239k
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,582
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Median Debt
$25,846
Earnings (4yr)
$81,714
Natl Median: $81,171
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$91,269
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$215k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$35,526
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$234k
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$63,501
Natl Median: $70,873
Lifetime Value Added
+$1k
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (4yr)
$69,274
Natl Median: $50,580
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Forestry
BachCIP: 0305
Median Debt
$26,425
Earnings (4yr)
$63,764
Natl Median: $58,784
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Genetics
BachCIP: 2608
Median Debt
$22,875
Earnings (5yr)
$68,311
Natl Median: $66,076
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$72,010
Natl Median: $68,245
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,125
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$92,491
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$224k
Median Debt
$25,905
Earnings (4yr)
$105,646
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$324k
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$65,469
Natl Median: $66,387
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,044
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$18,375
Earnings (4yr)
$81,109
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
Median Debt
$22,849
Earnings (4yr)
$85,883
Natl Median: $91,449
Lifetime Value Added
+$174k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (4yr)
$82,450
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$147k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$91,028
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$213k
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$81,526
Natl Median: $62,582
Lifetime Value Added
+$140k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$40,266
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$193k
Median Debt
$18,336
Earnings (4yr)
$48,898
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,844
Natl Median: $56,567
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Median Debt
$19,212
Earnings (4yr)
$64,822
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,126
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$71,968
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$74,491
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$67,102
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$70,584
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$18,687
Earnings (4yr)
$54,780
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (2yr)
$32,658
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$248k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$49,861
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,212
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Median Debt
$20,832
Earnings (4yr)
$45,735
Natl Median: $47,629
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$102,502
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$223k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,332
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,454
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Animal Sciences
MastCIP: 0109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,394
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$40,932
Earnings (4yr)
$73,050
Natl Median: $77,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,905
Natl Median: $74,139
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$66,752
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$100,816
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
+$208k
Median Debt
$42,233
Earnings (4yr)
$114,399
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$326k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,971
Natl Median: $79,665
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$89,331
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $148,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,166
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,073
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$21,200
Earnings (4yr)
$57,075
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,716
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$175k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, Other
MastCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$114,455
Natl Median: $129,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$327k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,925
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$404k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,629
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,332
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Forestry
MastCIP: 0305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,518
Natl Median: $64,496
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,110
Natl Median: $58,524
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Median Debt
$38,386
Earnings (4yr)
$79,651
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$136,058
Natl Median: $119,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$514k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,306
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$28,290
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,106
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,282
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$102,636
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$224k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,750
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,371
Natl Median: $57,803
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
MastCIP: 0111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,814
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$42,975
Earnings (4yr)
$92,184
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$132k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Real Estate
MastCIP: 5215
Median Debt
$41,917
Earnings (4yr)
$119,115
Natl Median: $135,104
Lifetime Value Added
+$367k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$109,470
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$283k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$54,035
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,286
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$41,133
Earnings (4yr)
$60,461
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Median Debt
$17,428
Earnings (4yr)
$58,602
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Median Debt
$19,411
Earnings (4yr)
$47,818
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$270k
Median Debt
$29,893
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,114
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,299
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,772
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $195,803
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Administration
Gr-CertCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,022
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Animal Sciences
DocCIP: 0109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,778
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,848
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $141,187
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
DocCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,931
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $167,302
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,031
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
DocCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $135,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, Other
DocCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,635
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,417
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Median Debt
$40,750
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,550
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $171,574
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, Other
DocCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $140,028
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,003
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Forestry
DocCIP: 0305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,046
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Genetics
DocCIP: 2608
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $102,123
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,538
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $137,148
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,845
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
DocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,943
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,153
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
DocCIP: 0111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,502
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, Other
DocCIP: 4299
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,857
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $119,220
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$43,316
Earnings (4yr)
$57,641
Natl Median: $83,794
Lifetime Value Added
-$304k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,306
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,436
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.