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Johnson & Wales University-Online

Providence, RI 2,202 Undergrads 27.9% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$28,723
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$22,071
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,010
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$22,071
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$54,010
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$53,928
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate27.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age21.0
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients38.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time23.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS67.4%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
91.0%
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)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$480k
+$10k
-$6k
Median Cost$22k/yr
+$401k
-$69k
-$85k
Full Cost$29k/yr
+$377k
-$93k
-$109k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$22k/yr
Never
-108%
Full Cost$29k/yr
Never
-106%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.⚠️ 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

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-93%

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-77%

Program ROI Analysis

These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →

Associate's Degrees

Culinary Arts and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1205

Earnings shared by 3 Johnson & Wales University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$42,395
Natl Median: $39,605
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k

Bachelor's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203

Earnings shared by 3 Johnson & Wales University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (4yr)
$73,476
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202

Earnings shared by 3 Johnson & Wales University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,186
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901

Earnings shared by 3 Johnson & Wales University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$51,247
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Computer Software and Media Applications
BachCIP: 1108

Earnings shared by 2 Johnson & Wales University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,374
Natl Median: $58,894
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301

Earnings shared by 2 Johnson & Wales University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,632
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
BachCIP: 5207

Earnings shared by 3 Johnson & Wales University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,042
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208

Earnings shared by 2 Johnson & Wales University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$73,152
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$76k
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1905

Earnings shared by 3 Johnson & Wales University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,571
Natl Median: $54,945
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209

Earnings shared by 3 Johnson & Wales University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,790
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210

Earnings shared by 2 Johnson & Wales University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$37,500
Earnings (4yr)
$79,056
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211

Earnings shared by 2 Johnson & Wales University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$27,882
Earnings (4yr)
$61,380
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214

Earnings shared by 3 Johnson & Wales University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$64,321
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management
BachCIP: 3103

Earnings shared by 3 Johnson & Wales University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,241
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909

Earnings shared by 2 Johnson & Wales University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$77,025
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations
BachCIP: 5219

Earnings shared by 3 Johnson & Wales University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,539
Natl Median: $59,631
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202

Earnings shared by 2 Johnson & Wales University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$73,821
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,369
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$338k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,856
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210

Earnings shared by 2 Johnson & Wales University campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,995
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
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.