College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Houston Christian University

Houston, TX 2,777 Undergrads 48.5% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$47,605
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$19,710
After Aid
Median Earnings
$55,933
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$19,710
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$55,933
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate48.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients53.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time78.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS70.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
85.2%
SAT Avg
1,092
SAT Reading
25th: 49058075th: 610
SAT Math
25th: 48056575th: 590
ACT Composite
25th: 192575th: 28

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
+$485k
+$88k
+$492
Median Cost$20k/yr
+$414k
+$17k
-$70k
Full Cost$48k/yr
+$314k
-$83k
-$171k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
64
Median Cost$20k/yr
Never
-99%
Full Cost$48k/yr
Never
-100%
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-89%

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-84%
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
$27,500
Earnings (5yr)
$78,672
Lifetime Value Added
+$113k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$26,667
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Lifetime Value Added
-$354k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (5yr)
$61,591
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,041
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$19,910
Earnings (5yr)
$44,049
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General
BachCIP: 3000
Median Debt
$28,333
Earnings (5yr)
$44,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$53,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (5yr)
$94,329
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
Religion/Religious Studies
BachCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,421
Lifetime Value Added
-$314k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,974
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$47,848
Earnings (5yr)
$110,445
Lifetime Value Added
+$493k
Business/Commerce, General
MastCIP: 5201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$108,181
Lifetime Value Added
+$473k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$38,564
Earnings (5yr)
$60,722
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$27,333
Earnings (2yr)
$53,775
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research
MastCIP: 1306
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$55,286
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$33,850
Earnings (5yr)
$106,077
Lifetime Value Added
+$455k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,611
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k

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.