College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Hood College

Frederick, MD 1,202 Undergrads 65.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$59,174
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$23,707
After Aid
Median Earnings
$57,089
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$23,707
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$57,089
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate65.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients37.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time97.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS72.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
78.1%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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
+$494k
+$98k
+$10k
Median Cost$24k/yr
+$409k
+$12k
-$76k
Full Cost$59k/yr
+$281k
-$115k
-$203k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
53
Median Cost$24k/yr
Never
-89%
Full Cost$59k/yr
Never
-95%
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-84%

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

Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$54,473
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$23,331
Earnings (5yr)
$64,348
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,421
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$83,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$133k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,557
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$19,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$374k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,279
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$280k
Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate)
BachCIP: 2200
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,318
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$321k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (5yr)
$40,675
Lifetime Value Added
-$202k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$22,125
Earnings (5yr)
$48,777
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$45,980
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$98,783
Lifetime Value Added
+$385k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$54,252
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$94,877
Lifetime Value Added
+$352k

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.