College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Doane University

Crete, NE 981 Undergrads 59.8% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$55,510
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$28,071
After Aid
Median Earnings
$53,316
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$28,071
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$53,316
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate59.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients27.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time93.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
89.5%
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
+$464k
+$68k
-$20k
Median Cost$28k/yr
+$363k
-$33k
-$121k
Full Cost$56k/yr
+$264k
-$132k
-$220k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$28k/yr
Never
-120%
Full Cost$56k/yr
Never
-110%
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-109%

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-91%
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
$23,702
Earnings (5yr)
$73,390
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$57,739
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$53,758
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$257k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$18,771
Lifetime Value Added
-$396k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,381
Lifetime Value Added
-$308k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,009
Lifetime Value Added
-$339k
Human Services, General
BachCIP: 4400
Median Debt
$23,484
Earnings (5yr)
$41,016
Lifetime Value Added
-$215k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$26,970
Earnings (5yr)
$46,918
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$20,180
Earnings (5yr)
$80,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$94k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,182
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,739
Lifetime Value Added
-$209k

Master's Degrees

Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$43,266
Earnings (5yr)
$51,914
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$9,930
Earnings (5yr)
$55,404
Lifetime Value Added
-$915
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$15,343
Earnings (5yr)
$74,287
Lifetime Value Added
+$167k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
MastCIP: 5213
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$76,607
Lifetime Value Added
+$187k

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.