College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Gordon State College

Barnesville, GA 2,605 Undergrads 24.3% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$14,944
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$8,918
After Aid
Median Earnings
$37,871
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$8,918
Peer Midpoint: $9,014
Earnings (10yr)$37,871
Peer Midpoint: $40,397
Graduation Rate24.3%
Peer Midpoint: 32.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients55.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time68.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS55.4%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
86.8%
SAT Avg
950
SAT Reading
25th: -51075th: -
SAT Math
25th: -48075th: -
ACT Composite
25th: 152075th: 21

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
+$382k
-$7k
-$103k
Median Cost$9k/yr
+$365k
-$24k
-$119k
Full Cost$15k/yr
+$354k
-$35k
-$130k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$9k/yr
Never
-726%
Full Cost$15k/yr
Never
-474%
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-740%

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-193%
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

Associate's Degrees

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$15,740
Earnings (5yr)
$39,973
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$12,750
Earnings (5yr)
$69,783
Lifetime Value Added
+$205k

Bachelor's Degrees

Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,638
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (5yr)
$49,477
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$29,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$248k
Human Services, General
BachCIP: 4400
Median Debt
$27,268
Earnings (5yr)
$38,650
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (5yr)
$74,101
Lifetime Value Added
+$118k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$20,898
Earnings (5yr)
$47,288
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k

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.