College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Emory & Henry University

Emory, VA 1,107 Undergrads 56.3% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$52,311
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$20,591
After Aid
Median Earnings
$47,385
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$20,591
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$47,385
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate56.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients41.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS68.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
96.3%
SAT Avg
1,171
SAT Reading
25th: 530-75th: 630
SAT Math
25th: 500-75th: 610
ACT Composite
25th: 21-75th: 30

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
+$416k
+$20k
-$68k
Median Cost$21k/yr
+$342k
-$55k
-$142k
Full Cost$52k/yr
+$228k
-$169k
-$257k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$21k/yr
Never
-192%
Full Cost$52k/yr
Never
-136%
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-153%

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

Bachelor's Degrees

Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,484
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (5yr)
$52,576
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,055
Lifetime Value Added
-$284k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$47,613
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$26,970
Earnings (2yr)
$25,967
Lifetime Value Added
-$303k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,249
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k

Master's Degrees

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,022
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k

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.