College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Fontbonne University

Saint Louis, MO 632 Undergrads 62.6% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$42,982
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$18,251
After Aid
Median Earnings
$48,825
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$18,251
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$48,825
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate62.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients47.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time93.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS79.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
95.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: -2275th: -

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
+$428k
+$31k
-$57k
Median Cost$18k/yr
+$362k
-$34k
-$122k
Full Cost$43k/yr
+$273k
-$123k
-$211k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$18k/yr
Never
-186%
Full Cost$43k/yr
Never
-137%
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-151%

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-98%
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

Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$66,919
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,337
Lifetime Value Added
-$182k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,366
Lifetime Value Added
-$177k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$32,433
Earnings (5yr)
$43,667
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (2yr)
$35,276
Lifetime Value Added
-$210k

Master's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$55,286
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$70,234
Lifetime Value Added
+$150k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$34,990
Earnings (5yr)
$53,199
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$51,209
Earnings (5yr)
$48,053
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$51,375
Earnings (5yr)
$46,451
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$34,167
Earnings (5yr)
$55,812
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k

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.