College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Hamilton College

Clinton, NY 2,045 Undergrads 90.8% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$80,380
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$28,314
After Aid
Median Earnings
$78,411
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$28,314
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$78,411
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate90.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients18.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time100.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS78.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
11.8%
SAT Avg
1,487
SAT Reading
25th: 70073075th: 770
SAT Math
25th: 71074575th: 780
ACT Composite
25th: 323475th: 35

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
+$655k
+$258k
+$170k
Median Cost$28k/yr
+$553k
+$157k
+$69k
Full Cost$80k/yr
+$366k
-$31k
-$119k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
29
∞
Median Cost$28k/yr
42
67%
Full Cost$80k/yr
Never
-41%
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 Return14%

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-61%
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
$17,000
Earnings (2yr)
$32,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$272k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$51,273
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (5yr)
$108,312
Lifetime Value Added
+$304k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$258k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,772
Lifetime Value Added
-$342k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,771
Lifetime Value Added
-$287k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (2yr)
$46,087
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$16,275
Earnings (5yr)
$94,417
Lifetime Value Added
+$200k
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
BachCIP: 2615
Median Debt
$15,375
Earnings (2yr)
$23,579
Lifetime Value Added
-$353k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,353
Lifetime Value Added
-$327k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (5yr)
$80,732
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$77,469
Lifetime Value Added
+$73k
Public Policy Analysis
BachCIP: 4405
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (2yr)
$50,856
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,925
Lifetime Value Added
-$267k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$58,619
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k

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.