College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Lakeland University

Plymouth, WI 1,230 Undergrads 47.9% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$45,751
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$22,092
After Aid
Median Earnings
$55,961
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$22,092
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$55,961
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate47.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients43.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time59.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS80.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
91.1%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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
+$485k
+$89k
+$715
Median Cost$22k/yr
+$406k
+$9k
-$79k
Full Cost$46k/yr
+$320k
-$76k
-$164k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
63
Median Cost$22k/yr
Never
-99%
Full Cost$46k/yr
Never
-100%
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-88%

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-84%
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

Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$61,825
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$58,939
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,830
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$22,362
Earnings (5yr)
$75,642
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,709
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$55,964
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$23,625
Earnings (5yr)
$41,523
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$58,882
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$30,364
Earnings (5yr)
$48,637
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,641
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$36,321
Earnings (5yr)
$79,761
Lifetime Value Added
+$225k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$59,217
Earnings (5yr)
$55,277
Lifetime Value Added
+$9k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$43,156
Earnings (5yr)
$50,421
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k

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.