College ROI

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Laguna College of Art and Design

Laguna Beach, CA 746 Undergrads 63.7% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$63,823
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$50,349
After Aid
Median Earnings
$65,075
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$50,349
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$65,075
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Warning: This school's reported earnings inflated significantly (+32%) when the Dept of Education excluded non-graduates from the dataset. Take caution when comparing.
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$49,168
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate63.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)21.4
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients30.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time92.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS52.7%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
94.3%
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
+$569k
+$99k
+$83k
Median Cost$50k/yr
+$388k
-$82k
-$98k
Full Cost$64k/yr
+$339k
-$131k
-$147k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
34
∞
Median Cost$50k/yr
Never
-54%
Full Cost$64k/yr
Never
-64%
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-29%

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-73%

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 →

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,104
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$26,625
Earnings (4yr)
$68,934
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$27,815
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$404k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$38,850
Natl Median: $43,283
Lifetime Value Added
-$307k
Try this program with your own numbers →

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,073
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
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.