College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Lewis & Clark College

Portland, OR 2,167 Undergrads 74.7% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$76,690
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$36,084
After Aid
Median Earnings
$62,205
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$36,084
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$62,205
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate74.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients20.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS66.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
74.5%
SAT Avg
1,321
SAT Reading
25th: 62069075th: 720
SAT Math
25th: 59064075th: 670
ACT Composite
25th: 283075th: 31

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
+$534k
+$138k
+$50k
Median Cost$36k/yr
+$404k
+$8k
-$80k
Full Cost$77k/yr
+$258k
-$138k
-$226k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
38
Median Cost$36k/yr
Never
-62%
Full Cost$77k/yr
Never
-82%
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-62%

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-82%
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

Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,464
Earnings (5yr)
$49,175
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$64,056
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Lifetime Value Added
-$412k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$24,125
Earnings (5yr)
$60,179
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (2yr)
$31,133
Lifetime Value Added
-$312k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$21,054
Lifetime Value Added
-$415k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,513
Lifetime Value Added
-$198k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$61,511
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$366k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,353
Lifetime Value Added
-$355k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$18,771
Lifetime Value Added
-$425k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,848
Lifetime Value Added
-$260k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$49,969
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$376k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,339
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k

Master's Degrees

Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$119,806
Earnings (5yr)
$71,725
Lifetime Value Added
+$130k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,413
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,254
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,051
Lifetime Value Added
+$116k

Doctoral Degrees

Law
DocCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$149,506
Earnings (5yr)
$93,757
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k

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.