College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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John Brown University

Siloam Springs, AR 1,471 Undergrads 67.9% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$44,710
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$20,397
After Aid
Median Earnings
$55,210
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$20,397
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$55,210
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate67.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients30.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time95.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS73.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
76.1%
SAT Avg
1,195
SAT Reading
25th: 55060875th: 690
SAT Math
25th: 52060375th: 650
ACT Composite
25th: 212675th: 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
+$497k
+$30k
+$12k
Median Cost$20k/yr
+$423k
-$43k
-$61k
Full Cost$45k/yr
+$336k
-$131k
-$148k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
51
Median Cost$20k/yr
Never
-83%
Full Cost$45k/yr
Never
-92%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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-75%

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-80%
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

Associate's Degrees

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$82,703
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$153k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$24,995
Earnings (4yr)
$70,720
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$19,752
Earnings (4yr)
$78,800
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$123k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,598
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$278k
Construction Management
BachCIP: 5220
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$99,760
Natl Median: $95,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$268k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$47,248
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Engineering, General
BachCIP: 1401
Median Debt
$25,488
Earnings (4yr)
$90,783
Natl Median: $89,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$215k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$18,771
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$369k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$36,796
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$217k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$23,625
Earnings (4yr)
$39,575
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$193k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$45,322
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$47,076
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
BachCIP: 3907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$35,601
Natl Median: $42,915
Lifetime Value Added
-$227k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,703
Earnings (4yr)
$40,222
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$187k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$29,000
Earnings (4yr)
$64,963
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Religious Music and Worship
BachCIP: 3905
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,456
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,188
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,208
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$200k
Theological and Ministerial Studies
BachCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,535
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$23,552
Earnings (4yr)
$97,702
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$183k
Business/Commerce, General
MastCIP: 5201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,988
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Design and Applied Arts
MastCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,073
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$52,463
Earnings (4yr)
$49,897
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$245k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Other Programs

Health/Medical Preparatory Programs
DegCIP: 5111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,700
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
DegCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,308
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 degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.