College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Gordon College

Wenham, MA 1,247 Undergrads 73.5% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$41,160
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$24,817
After Aid
Median Earnings
$52,119
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$24,817
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$52,119
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate73.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients21.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time96.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS76.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
58.8%
SAT Avg
1,268
SAT Reading
25th: 59864475th: 690
SAT Math
25th: 57061875th: 680
ACT Composite
25th: 262775th: 32

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
+$454k
+$58k
-$30k
Median Cost$25k/yr
+$365k
-$31k
-$119k
Full Cost$41k/yr
+$306k
-$90k
-$178k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$25k/yr
Never
-134%
Full Cost$41k/yr
Never
-120%
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-123%

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

Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$49,453
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$23,489
Earnings (5yr)
$83,795
Lifetime Value Added
+$133k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (5yr)
$52,115
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$45,918
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$47,430
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$95,138
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,846
Lifetime Value Added
-$196k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$27,439
Lifetime Value Added
-$305k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,157
Lifetime Value Added
-$202k
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies
BachCIP: 3101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,353
Lifetime Value Added
-$315k
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
BachCIP: 3907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$37,771
Lifetime Value Added
-$231k
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
BachCIP: 2609
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$47,054
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$55,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$49,766
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$26,681
Earnings (5yr)
$49,985
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k

Master's Degrees

Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k

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.