College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Colorado College

Colorado Springs, CO 2,139 Undergrads 87.0% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$83,228
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$31,678
After Aid
Median Earnings
$65,222
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$31,678
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$65,222
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate87.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients13.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS69.7%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
20.0%
SAT Avg
1,445
SAT Reading
25th: 690-75th: 760
SAT Math
25th: 675-75th: 760
ACT Composite
25th: 31-75th: 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
+$557k
+$161k
+$73k
Median Cost$32k/yr
+$443k
+$47k
-$41k
Full Cost$83k/yr
+$258k
-$139k
-$227k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
35
∞
Median Cost$32k/yr
Never
-36%
Full Cost$83k/yr
Never
-76%
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-51%

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-80%
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

Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$49,761
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$18,628
Earnings (5yr)
$84,600
Lifetime Value Added
+$114k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,588
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,508
Lifetime Value Added
-$384k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$238k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$350k

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.