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Hamilton College
Clinton, NY 2,030 Undergrads 91.8% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$84,230
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$28,985
After Aid
Median Earnings
$79,130
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$28,985
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$79,130
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate91.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients17.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time100.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS78.3%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
13.6%
SAT Avg
1,506
SAT Reading
25th: 72073075th: 770
SAT Math
25th: 73074575th: 780
ACT Composite
25th: 333475th: 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
+$684k
+$217k
+$199k
Median Cost$29k/yr
+$579k
+$112k
+$95k
Full Cost$84k/yr
+$381k
-$86k
-$104k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
28
∞
Median Cost$29k/yr
39
91%
Full Cost$84k/yr
Never
-34%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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 Return26%
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-57%
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
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (2yr)
$32,382
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$275k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$51,273
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,374
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
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,642
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$130,633
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$486k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,772
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$344k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,771
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$289k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$64,585
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Literature
BachCIP: 2314
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,173
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$16,275
Earnings (4yr)
$83,211
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General
BachCIP: 3000
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,532
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 (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
BachCIP: 2615
Median Debt
$15,375
Earnings (2yr)
$23,579
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
-$355k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,353
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$330k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$88,019
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$163k
Public Policy Analysis
BachCIP: 4405
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (2yr)
$50,856
Natl Median: $73,721
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Religion/Religious Studies
BachCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Research and Experimental Psychology
BachCIP: 4227
Median Debt
$17,450
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,806
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$196k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$58,619
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
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 degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.