Colgate University

Hamilton, NY 3,180 Undergrads 91.0% Grad Rate

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Total Cost

$87,070

Sticker Price

Avg Net Price

$28,786

After Aid

Median Earnings

$77,917

4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$28,786

Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5

Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$77,917

Peer Midpoint: $60,428

Graduation Rate91.0%

Peer Midpoint: 58.9%

Average Starting Age19.3

Socio-Economic Diversity

Pell Grant Recipients12.6%

Enrollment Status

Full-Time99.6%

Economic Outcomes

Earn More than HS84.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance

13.9%

SAT Avg

1,508

SAT Reading

25th: 71070575th: 760

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

+$674k

+$207k

+$190k

Median Cost$29k/yr

+$571k

+$104k

+$86k

Full Cost$87k/yr

+$361k

-$106k

-$123k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age

Return on Inv. %

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

∞

Median Cost$29k/yr

83%

Full Cost$87k/yr

Never

-39%

Analysis Assumptions:

Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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 Return17%

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-60%

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

Natl Median: $65,466

Lifetime Value Added

-$187k

Biology, General

BachCIP: 2601

Median Debt

$14,730

Earnings (4yr)

$57,996

Natl Median: $57,214

Lifetime Value Added

-$68k

Chemistry

BachCIP: 4005

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $65,120

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Classical and Ancient Studies

BachCIP: 3022

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $50,477

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

BachCIP: 1612

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $49,429

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Computer Science

BachCIP: 1107

Median Debt

$16,000

Earnings (4yr)

$161,980

Natl Median: $107,009

Lifetime Value Added

+$722k

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

BachCIP: 5005

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $39,775

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

BachCIP: 1603

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $51,642

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Economics

BachCIP: 4506

Median Debt

$17,500

Earnings (4yr)

$128,887

Natl Median: $82,686

Lifetime Value Added

+$474k

Education, General

BachCIP: 1301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$57,530

Natl Median: $49,808

Lifetime Value Added

-$72k

English Language and Literature, General

BachCIP: 2301

Median Debt

BachCIP: 3008

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $118,943

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Mathematics

BachCIP: 2701

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $69,562

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Music

BachCIP: 5009

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $42,892

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Natural Resources Conservation and Research

BachCIP: 0301

Median Debt

$17,000

Earnings (4yr)

$70,760

Natl Median: $55,012

Lifetime Value Added

+$32k

Natural Sciences

BachCIP: 3018

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $57,935

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Neurobiology and Neurosciences

BachCIP: 2615

Median Debt

$17,250

Earnings (5yr)

$49,697

Natl Median: $62,451

Lifetime Value Added

-$145k

Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution

BachCIP: 3005

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$79,025

Natl Median: $63,114

Lifetime Value Added

+$83k

Philosophy and Religious Studies, General

BachCIP: 3800

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $47,213

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Philosophy

BachCIP: 3801

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$43,798

Natl Median: $54,455

Lifetime Value Added

-$172k

Physics

BachCIP: 4008

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $76,786

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Political Science and Government

BachCIP: 4510

Median Debt

$16,250

Earnings (4yr)

$83,188

Natl Median: $63,293

Lifetime Value Added

+$127k

Psychology, General

BachCIP: 4201

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$77,760

Natl Median: $50,706

Lifetime Value Added

+$74k

Religion/Religious Studies

BachCIP: 3802

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $41,390

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Research and Experimental Psychology

BachCIP: 4227

Median Debt

$16,000

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,695

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

BachCIP: 1609

Median Debt

$16,900

Earnings (4yr)

$81,802

Natl Median: $55,000

Lifetime Value Added

+$116k

Social Sciences, General

BachCIP: 4501

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $53,366

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Sociology and Anthropology

BachCIP: 4513

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$33,993

Natl Median: $45,120

Lifetime Value Added

-$259k

Sociology

BachCIP: 4511

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $52,657

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Master's Degrees

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

MastCIP: 1313

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $63,707

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. 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.