College ROI

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Colby College

Waterville, ME 2,282 Undergrads 88.7% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$81,550
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$23,939
After Aid
Median Earnings
$80,490
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$23,939
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$80,490
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate88.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients13.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time100.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS85.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
6.8%
SAT Avg
1,500
SAT Reading
25th: 71072075th: 760
SAT Math
25th: 73074575th: 790
ACT Composite
25th: 323375th: 34

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
+$670k
+$274k
+$186k
Median Cost$24k/yr
+$584k
+$188k
+$100k
Full Cost$82k/yr
+$377k
-$20k
-$108k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
28
∞
Median Cost$24k/yr
37
116%
Full Cost$82k/yr
Never
-37%
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 Return22%

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-59%
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

Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,971
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$242k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,771
Lifetime Value Added
-$271k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$142,245
Lifetime Value Added
+$571k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,193
Lifetime Value Added
-$177k
International/Global Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$79,364
Lifetime Value Added
+$103k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$19,313
Earnings (5yr)
$53,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$92,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$199k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,101
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k

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.