College ROI

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Fort Lewis College

Durango, CO 3,070 Undergrads 46.6% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$25,558
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$17,339
After Aid
Median Earnings
$46,349
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$17,339
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$46,349
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate46.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients38.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time91.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS62.7%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
93.2%
SAT Avg
1,084
SAT Reading
25th: 50055575th: 630
SAT Math
25th: 48053075th: 590
ACT Composite
25th: 162075th: 24

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
+$408k
+$11k
-$77k
Median Cost$17k/yr
+$345k
-$51k
-$139k
Full Cost$26k/yr
+$316k
-$81k
-$169k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$17k/yr
Never
-223%
Full Cost$26k/yr
Never
-184%
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-223%

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-105%
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
$19,225
Earnings (5yr)
$62,134
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$18,013
Earnings (5yr)
$40,213
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$17,653
Earnings (5yr)
$43,405
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$19,674
Earnings (5yr)
$60,396
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (2yr)
$32,119
Lifetime Value Added
-$235k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,087
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Engineering, General
BachCIP: 1401
Median Debt
$25,397
Earnings (5yr)
$74,411
Lifetime Value Added
+$90k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$16,250
Earnings (5yr)
$42,504
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$16,465
Earnings (5yr)
$38,124
Lifetime Value Added
-$201k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,889
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$15,163
Earnings (5yr)
$49,128
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$32,794
Lifetime Value Added
-$246k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,161
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$14,951
Earnings (5yr)
$45,158
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$22,192
Lifetime Value Added
-$326k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,409
Lifetime Value Added
-$251k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$17,919
Earnings (5yr)
$37,246
Lifetime Value Added
-$208k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$13,262
Earnings (2yr)
$28,960
Lifetime Value Added
-$264k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$18,682
Earnings (5yr)
$38,414
Lifetime Value Added
-$198k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$34,704
Lifetime Value Added
-$212k

Master's Degrees

Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,193
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k

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.