College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Hobart William Smith Colleges

Geneva, NY 1,606 Undergrads 74.9% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$80,635
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$31,057
After Aid
Median Earnings
$68,831
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$31,057
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$68,831
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate74.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients23.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS83.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
57.3%
SAT Avg
1,296
SAT Reading
25th: 62063575th: 690
SAT Math
25th: 60063575th: 670
ACT Composite
25th: 262975th: 32

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
+$584k
+$188k
+$100k
Median Cost$31k/yr
+$473k
+$76k
-$12k
Full Cost$81k/yr
+$294k
-$102k
-$190k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
32
∞
Median Cost$31k/yr
Never
-11%
Full Cost$81k/yr
Never
-66%
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-32%

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

Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (5yr)
$70,320
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$26,967
Earnings (5yr)
$84,370
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$30,409
Lifetime Value Added
-$300k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$65,922
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,406
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$70,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$33,281
Lifetime Value Added
-$274k
Public Policy Analysis
BachCIP: 4405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,942
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k

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.