College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Hood College

Frederick, MD 1,194 Undergrads 66.0% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$61,219
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$20,873
After Aid
Median Earnings
$70,173
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$20,873
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$70,173
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$57,089
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate66.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age21.5
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients37.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS72.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
77.8%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$615k
+$148k
+$131k
Median Cost$21k/yr
+$540k
+$73k
+$56k
Full Cost$61k/yr
+$395k
-$72k
-$90k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
30
Median Cost$21k/yr
42
74%
Full Cost$61k/yr
Never
-41%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return15%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-59%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Certificates

Area Studies
CertCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,845
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,065
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,696
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,886
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Median Debt
$23,331
Earnings (4yr)
$78,503
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$119k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,421
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $104,864
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$83,323
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$144k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,022
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,126
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,411
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,279
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$270k
Non-Professional Legal Studies
BachCIP: 2200
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,318
Natl Median: $61,959
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$311k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$65,110
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,750
Earnings (4yr)
$92,955
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$22,125
Earnings (5yr)
$48,777
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,200
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $104,114
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $128,842
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,056
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$119,559
Natl Median: $88,516
Lifetime Value Added
+$488k
Fine and Studio Arts
PB-CertCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $26,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,864
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,764
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,414
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$90,850
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,246
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$70,544
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$93,047
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$46,161
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, Other
MastCIP: 4299
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,796
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,439
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $113,566
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$100,507
Natl Median: $90,560
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,636
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 decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.