College ROI

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Kalamazoo College

Kalamazoo, MI 1,149 Undergrads 78.2% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$74,208
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$19,072
After Aid
Median Earnings
$55,566
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$19,072
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$55,566
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate78.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients24.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS68.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
75.3%
SAT Avg
1,280
SAT Reading
25th: 59064075th: 700
SAT Math
25th: 58063075th: 680
ACT Composite
25th: 202775th: 29

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
+$500k
+$33k
+$15k
Median Cost$19k/yr
+$431k
-$36k
-$53k
Full Cost$74k/yr
+$233k
-$234k
-$252k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
49
∞
Median Cost$19k/yr
Never
-78%
Full Cost$74k/yr
Never
-94%
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-83%

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-88%
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

Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$26,750
Earnings (4yr)
$52,863
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$75,260
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$63,824
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Classical and Ancient Studies
BachCIP: 3022
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,477
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$117,826
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$425k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$72,170
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$25,456
Earnings (4yr)
$49,150
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1605
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$26,383
Earnings (4yr)
$45,265
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$24,650
Earnings (4yr)
$54,747
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Religion/Religious Studies
BachCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 4599
Median Debt
$24,821
Earnings (4yr)
$59,193
Natl Median: $56,812
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k

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.