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Guilford College
Greensboro, NC 1,001 Undergrads 49.6% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$55,689
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$22,270
After Aid
Median Earnings
$50,433
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$22,270
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$50,433Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$47,590Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate49.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age23.0
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients49.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS68.3%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
80.0%
SAT Avg
1,105
SAT Reading
25th: 55055075th: 650
SAT Math
25th: 57052575th: 610
ACT Composite
25th: 182075th: 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)⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$457k
-$10k
-$27k
Median Cost$22k/yr
+$377k
-$90k
-$107k
Full Cost$56k/yr
+$257k
-$210k
-$228k
ROI Efficiency Metrics⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$22k/yr
Never
-134%
Full Cost$56k/yr
Never
-114%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
- 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⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
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-114%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
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-92%
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⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (4yr)
$67,698
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 2699
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,998
Natl Median: $65,681
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$40,994
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$194k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,858
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Community Organization and Advocacy
BachCIP: 4402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,936
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,823
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
BachCIP: 1110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,209
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,332
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,064
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$28,107
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$304k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1605
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs
BachCIP: 5111
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$46,011
Natl Median: $61,911
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$39,768
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$205k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$363k
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
BachCIP: 3005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,114
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$316k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,921
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Religion/Religious Studies
BachCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology and Anthropology
BachCIP: 4513
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,959
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$46,651
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Sustainability Studies
BachCIP: 3033
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,887
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,413
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Master's Degrees
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), 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 decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.
Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.