College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Hanover College

Hanover, IN 958 Undergrads 66.9% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$55,798
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$21,826
After Aid
Median Earnings
$53,957
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$21,826
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$53,957
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate66.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients26.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS73.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
84.0%
SAT Avg
1,197
SAT Reading
25th: 54061575th: 640
SAT Math
25th: 53059575th: 600
ACT Composite
25th: 222875th: 30

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
+$469k
+$73k
-$15k
Median Cost$22k/yr
+$391k
-$6k
-$94k
Full Cost$56k/yr
+$268k
-$128k
-$216k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$22k/yr
Never
-119%
Full Cost$56k/yr
Never
-108%
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-104%

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-90%
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
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$44,028
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$196k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$52,270
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$26,898
Earnings (5yr)
$69,424
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$315k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,369
Lifetime Value Added
-$186k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$26,954
Earnings (5yr)
$47,586
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,771
Lifetime Value Added
-$264k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,117
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,980
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,627
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,342
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k

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.