College ROI

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Indiana University-Northwest

Gary, IN 2,582 Undergrads 37.5% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$13,371
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$5,970
After Aid
Median Earnings
$43,361
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$5,970
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$43,361
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate37.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients44.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time74.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS67.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
76.7%
SAT Avg
1,067
SAT Reading
25th: 48053575th: 580
SAT Math
25th: 46050575th: 590
ACT Composite
25th: 212275th: 27

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
+$383k
-$13k
-$101k
Median Cost$6k/yr
+$362k
-$35k
-$123k
Full Cost$13k/yr
+$335k
-$62k
-$149k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$6k/yr
Never
-572%
Full Cost$13k/yr
Never
-311%
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-421%

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-128%
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

Certificates

Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$29,320
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k

Associate's Degrees

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (5yr)
$58,001
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,970
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k

Bachelor's Degrees

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$22,026
Earnings (5yr)
$66,583
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$56,498
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,186
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$19,802
Earnings (5yr)
$59,095
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$49,702
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (5yr)
$53,880
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,353
Lifetime Value Added
-$247k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$22,247
Earnings (5yr)
$45,103
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$39,507
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$21,702
Earnings (5yr)
$54,133
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$22,539
Earnings (5yr)
$76,826
Lifetime Value Added
+$149k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$45,619
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$28,084
Earnings (5yr)
$47,922
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k

Master's Degrees

Business/Commerce, General
MastCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$35,074
Earnings (5yr)
$106,617
Lifetime Value Added
+$485k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$36,780
Earnings (5yr)
$76,228
Lifetime Value Added
+$224k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$60,585
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k

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.