College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Colgate University

Hamilton, NY 3,122 Undergrads 90.8% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$83,650
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$29,107
After Aid
Median Earnings
$85,139
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$29,107
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$85,139
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate90.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients12.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS84.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
11.9%
SAT Avg
1,480
SAT Reading
25th: 71070575th: 750
SAT Math
25th: 72072075th: 780
ACT Composite
25th: 333375th: 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
+$704k
+$308k
+$220k
Median Cost$29k/yr
+$600k
+$203k
+$115k
Full Cost$84k/yr
+$403k
+$7k
-$81k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
28
∞
Median Cost$29k/yr
37
110%
Full Cost$84k/yr
Never
-27%
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 Return40%

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-53%
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

Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$15,350
Earnings (2yr)
$42,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$14,730
Earnings (5yr)
$55,827
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$16,000
Earnings (2yr)
$66,171
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (5yr)
$130,139
Lifetime Value Added
+$463k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$15,875
Earnings (5yr)
$60,334
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,891
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$86,420
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (5yr)
$78,918
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
BachCIP: 2615
Median Debt
$17,250
Earnings (5yr)
$49,697
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
BachCIP: 3005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$79,025
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$43,798
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$16,250
Earnings (5yr)
$95,708
Lifetime Value Added
+$207k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$77,760
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$16,900
Earnings (5yr)
$79,583
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
Sociology and Anthropology
BachCIP: 4513
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$261k

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.