College ROI

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Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, MN 1,930 Undergrads 78.5% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$65,976
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$26,895
After Aid
Median Earnings
$65,607
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$26,895
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$65,607
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate78.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients23.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS82.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
61.8%
SAT Avg
1,320
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: 252975th: 31

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
+$560k
+$164k
+$76k
Median Cost$27k/yr
+$463k
+$67k
-$21k
Full Cost$66k/yr
+$323k
-$74k
-$162k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
34
∞
Median Cost$27k/yr
Never
-22%
Full Cost$66k/yr
Never
-68%
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-36%

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-74%
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
$26,500
Earnings (5yr)
$87,570
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$343k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$25,105
Earnings (5yr)
$58,180
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (5yr)
$69,776
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$62,102
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$110,108
Lifetime Value Added
+$322k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$90,545
Lifetime Value Added
+$176k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$40,135
Lifetime Value Added
-$218k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$38,611
Lifetime Value Added
-$231k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$214k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$57,683
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,079
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$88,379
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,353
Lifetime Value Added
-$322k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$59,016
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$220k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$88,070
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$61,638
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$25,791
Earnings (5yr)
$61,843
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$75,297
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$253k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,049
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,637
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,678
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k

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.