College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Hardin-Simmons University

Abilene, TX 1,275 Undergrads 53.9% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$45,059
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$21,031
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,771
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$21,031
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$54,771
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate53.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients39.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time96.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS72.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
96.5%
SAT Avg
1,064
SAT Reading
25th: 48054075th: 600
SAT Math
25th: 48853075th: 590
ACT Composite
25th: 182175th: 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)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$476k
+$79k
-$9k
Median Cost$21k/yr
+$400k
+$3k
-$84k
Full Cost$45k/yr
+$313k
-$83k
-$171k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$21k/yr
Never
-112%
Full Cost$45k/yr
Never
-105%
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-98%

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-86%
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
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,025
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (2yr)
$31,133
Lifetime Value Added
-$257k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,770
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$25,625
Earnings (5yr)
$56,944
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$55,802
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
BachCIP: 5213
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$193k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$25,600
Earnings (5yr)
$40,256
Lifetime Value Added
-$196k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$79,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$25,312
Earnings (5yr)
$54,297
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$54,644
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$22,459
Earnings (5yr)
$50,755
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,833
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Theological and Ministerial Studies
MastCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$27,476
Lifetime Value Added
-$241k

Doctoral Degrees

Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (5yr)
$87,790
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k

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.