College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Lee University

Cleveland, TN 2,712 Undergrads 54.9% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$34,299
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$20,399
After Aid
Median Earnings
$43,222
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$20,399
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$43,222
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate54.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients33.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time89.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS64.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
72.2%
SAT Avg
1,144
SAT Reading
25th: 52056575th: 630
SAT Math
25th: 50055075th: 610
ACT Composite
25th: 202475th: 26

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
+$382k
-$15k
-$103k
Median Cost$20k/yr
+$308k
-$88k
-$176k
Full Cost$34k/yr
+$258k
-$138k
-$226k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$20k/yr
Never
-240%
Full Cost$34k/yr
Never
-183%
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-227%

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-111%
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
$16,750
Earnings (5yr)
$80,730
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,739
Lifetime Value Added
-$295k
Bible/Biblical Studies
BachCIP: 3902
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,671
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$24,788
Earnings (5yr)
$61,940
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$309k
Education, Other
BachCIP: 1399
Median Debt
$27,750
Earnings (5yr)
$34,307
Lifetime Value Added
-$244k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$39,009
Lifetime Value Added
-$184k
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs
BachCIP: 5111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$76,759
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$16,668
Earnings (5yr)
$42,674
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$27,203
Earnings (5yr)
$36,124
Lifetime Value Added
-$229k
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
BachCIP: 3907
Median Debt
$25,875
Earnings (5yr)
$43,323
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (5yr)
$39,475
Lifetime Value Added
-$200k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$43,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$26,725
Earnings (5yr)
$47,384
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$24,208
Earnings (2yr)
$35,060
Lifetime Value Added
-$220k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,099
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (5yr)
$41,273
Lifetime Value Added
-$185k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$29,625
Earnings (5yr)
$45,840
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$25,950
Earnings (5yr)
$65,278
Lifetime Value Added
+$103k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$42,100
Earnings (5yr)
$50,400
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,087
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$36,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Theological and Ministerial Studies
MastCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,854
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k

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.