College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Dordt University

Sioux Center, IA 1,547 Undergrads 71.6% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$49,722
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$25,383
After Aid
Median Earnings
$52,559
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$25,383
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$52,559
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate71.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients20.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS80.4%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
71.2%
SAT Avg
1,175
SAT Reading
25th: 51058075th: 620
SAT Math
25th: 52059075th: 610
ACT Composite
25th: 212575th: 27

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
+$458k
+$61k
-$26k
Median Cost$25k/yr
+$367k
-$30k
-$118k
Full Cost$50k/yr
+$279k
-$117k
-$205k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$25k/yr
Never
-129%
Full Cost$50k/yr
Never
-115%
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-115%

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

Agricultural Business and Management
BachCIP: 0101
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (2yr)
$48,823
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,369
Lifetime Value Added
-$199k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,208
Lifetime Value Added
-$218k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$58,673
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,833
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,954
Lifetime Value Added
-$230k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$82,623
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (5yr)
$59,927
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,381
Lifetime Value Added
-$298k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$42,730
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k

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.