College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Cornerstone University

Grand Rapids, MI 1,387 Undergrads 63.0% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$40,737
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$22,384
After Aid
Median Earnings
$47,314
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$22,384
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$47,314
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate63.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients30.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time79.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS72.4%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
73.2%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: -55575th: -
SAT Math
25th: -54075th: -
ACT Composite
25th: -2375th: -

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
+$415k
+$19k
-$69k
Median Cost$22k/yr
+$335k
-$62k
-$149k
Full Cost$41k/yr
+$269k
-$128k
-$216k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$22k/yr
Never
-186%
Full Cost$41k/yr
Never
-147%
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-168%

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-101%
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

Associate's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$27,250
Earnings (5yr)
$70,107
Lifetime Value Added
+$184k

Bachelor's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$58,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$24,625
Earnings (5yr)
$44,505
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,478
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$20,616
Earnings (2yr)
$40,485
Lifetime Value Added
-$178k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$25,957
Earnings (5yr)
$35,883
Lifetime Value Added
-$238k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$31,133
Lifetime Value Added
-$262k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (5yr)
$47,695
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$34,635
Earnings (5yr)
$82,174
Lifetime Value Added
+$245k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$45,100
Earnings (2yr)
$31,305
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Theological and Ministerial Studies
MastCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$40,574
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k

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.