College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Hope College

Holland, MI 3,274 Undergrads 77.5% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$52,206
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$25,749
After Aid
Median Earnings
$58,427
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$25,749
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$58,427
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate77.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients16.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time97.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS76.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
75.8%
SAT Avg
1,237
SAT Reading
25th: 55061075th: 660
SAT Math
25th: 54060575th: 650
ACT Composite
25th: 262875th: 31

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
+$505k
+$108k
+$20k
Median Cost$26k/yr
+$412k
+$15k
-$72k
Full Cost$52k/yr
+$317k
-$80k
-$168k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
46
Median Cost$26k/yr
Never
-78%
Full Cost$52k/yr
Never
-89%
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-72%

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-81%
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
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$83,017
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$52,442
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (5yr)
$72,190
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$26,636
Earnings (5yr)
$68,029
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$54,579
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$90,232
Lifetime Value Added
+$178k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$15,182
Lifetime Value Added
-$421k
Engineering, General
BachCIP: 1401
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$87,793
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$24,499
Earnings (2yr)
$23,649
Lifetime Value Added
-$343k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$329k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$54,295
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$42,935
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$24,499
Earnings (2yr)
$44,942
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$24,499
Earnings (5yr)
$51,887
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$75,372
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$54,230
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$26,670
Earnings (5yr)
$52,793
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$24,493
Earnings (5yr)
$51,986
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,640
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$25,800
Earnings (5yr)
$48,606
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$49,887
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k

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.