College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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College of the Atlantic

Bar Harbor, ME 353 Undergrads 65.0% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$58,266
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$25,184
After Aid
Median Earnings
$32,352
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$25,184
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$32,352
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$40,264
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate65.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age20.2
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients27.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time97.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS-

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
70.2%
SAT Avg
1,370
SAT Reading
25th: 660-75th: 730
SAT Math
25th: 580-75th: 700
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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
+$302k
-$165k
-$182k
Median Cost$25k/yr
+$212k
-$255k
-$273k
Full Cost$58k/yr
+$93k
-$374k
-$392k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$25k/yr
Never
-301%
Full Cost$58k/yr
Never
-187%
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 Return-237%

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-120%
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

Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General
BachCIP: 3000
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$31,138
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$283k

Master's Degrees

Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General
MastCIP: 3000
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,520
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.