College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Colorado Christian University

Lakewood, CO 5,363 Undergrads 31.1% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$50,206
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$25,458
After Aid
Median Earnings
$50,416
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$25,458
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$50,416
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate31.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients46.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time33.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS67.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
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
+$441k
+$44k
-$44k
Median Cost$25k/yr
+$349k
-$47k
-$135k
Full Cost$50k/yr
+$260k
-$136k
-$224k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$25k/yr
Never
-148%
Full Cost$50k/yr
Never
-124%
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 Return-132%

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-95%
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

Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$34,939
Earnings (5yr)
$66,454
Lifetime Value Added
+$487
Bible/Biblical Studies
BachCIP: 3902
Median Debt
$43,750
Earnings (5yr)
$64,604
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$23,483
Earnings (5yr)
$64,051
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$39,623
Lifetime Value Added
-$217k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$41,757
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$338k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$38,705
Earnings (5yr)
$51,973
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$33,563
Earnings (5yr)
$56,100
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$32,500
Earnings (5yr)
$43,868
Lifetime Value Added
-$182k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$37,500
Earnings (5yr)
$86,166
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
Research and Experimental Psychology
BachCIP: 4227
Median Debt
$18,125
Earnings (5yr)
$44,318
Lifetime Value Added
-$178k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$25,750
Earnings (5yr)
$38,973
Lifetime Value Added
-$223k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$31,387
Earnings (5yr)
$76,412
Lifetime Value Added
+$190k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$50,979
Earnings (5yr)
$55,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$29,153
Earnings (5yr)
$60,399
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k

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.