College ROI

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DigiPen Institute of Technology

Redmond, WA 995 Undergrads 57.2% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$55,588
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$44,446
After Aid
Median Earnings
$93,273
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$44,446
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$93,273
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate57.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients22.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time91.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS75.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
64.4%
SAT Avg
1,297
SAT Reading
25th: 59065375th: 700
SAT Math
25th: 56063275th: 700
ACT Composite
25th: 272875th: 29

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
+$792k
+$325k
+$307k
Median Cost$44k/yr
+$632k
+$165k
+$147k
Full Cost$56k/yr
+$592k
+$125k
+$107k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
26
∞
Median Cost$44k/yr
37
92%
Full Cost$56k/yr
41
54%
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 Return193%

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-6%
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

Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Programming
BachCIP: 1102
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$137,503
Natl Median: $83,439
Lifetime Value Added
+$482k
Computer Software and Media Applications
BachCIP: 1108
Median Debt
$26,924
Earnings (4yr)
$122,375
Natl Median: $58,894
Lifetime Value Added
+$368k
Graphic Communications
BachCIP: 1003
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,571
Natl Median: $43,283
Lifetime Value Added
-$228k
Human Computer Interaction
BachCIP: 3031
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$87,243
Natl Median: $50,526
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Computer Programming
MastCIP: 1102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $148,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Graphic Communications
MastCIP: 1003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,810
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 degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.