Lewis & Clark College

Portland, OR 2,120 Undergrads 74.3% Grad Rate

School Website|Financial Calculator

Total Cost

$79,987

Sticker Price

Avg Net Price

$36,013

After Aid

Median Earnings

$57,262

4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$36,013

Peer Midpoint: $20,081

Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation

$57,262

Peer Midpoint: $60,428

Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment

$62,205

Peer Midpoint: $53,763

Graduation Rate74.3%

Peer Midpoint: 58.9%

Average Starting Age19.7

Socio-Economic Diversity

Pell Grant Recipients20.0%

Enrollment Status

Full-Time98.7%

Economic Outcomes

Earn More than HS66.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance

78.5%

SAT Avg

SAT Reading

25th: -69075th: -

SAT Math

25th: -64075th: -

ACT Composite

25th: -3075th: -

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

+$514k

+$47k

+$29k

Median Cost$36k/yr

+$384k

-$83k

-$100k

Full Cost$80k/yr

+$226k

-$241k

-$259k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age

Return on Inv. %

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

∞

Median Cost$36k/yr

Never

-77%

Full Cost$80k/yr

Never

-90%

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-76%

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-86%

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

Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology

BachCIP: 2602

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $65,466

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Biology, General

BachCIP: 2601

Median Debt

$21,464

Earnings (4yr)

$49,503

Natl Median: $57,214

Lifetime Value Added

-$165k

Chemistry

BachCIP: 4005

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $65,120

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

BachCIP: 1612

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $49,429

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Communication and Media Studies

BachCIP: 0901

Median Debt

$20,500

Earnings (4yr)

$53,026

Natl Median: $56,359

Lifetime Value Added

-$135k

Computer Science

BachCIP: 1107

Median Debt

$24,000

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $107,009

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

BachCIP: 5005

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$20,140

Natl Median: $39,775

Lifetime Value Added

-$412k

Economics

BachCIP: 4506

Median Debt

$24,125

Earnings (4yr)

$81,567

Natl Median: $82,686

Lifetime Value Added

+$88k

English Language and Literature, General

BachCIP: 2301

Median Debt

$23,250

Earnings (4yr)

$39,705

Natl Median: $48,590

Lifetime Value Added

-$248k

Fine and Studio Arts

BachCIP: 5007

Median Debt

$25,000

Earnings (4yr)

$42,788

Natl Median: $41,367

Lifetime Value Added

-$221k

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 (5yr)

$46,513

Natl Median: $50,680

Lifetime Value Added

-$197k

International Relations and National Security Studies

BachCIP: 4509

Median Debt

$23,000

Earnings (4yr)

$57,783

Natl Median: $66,596

Lifetime Value Added

-$96k

Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services

BachCIP: 1601

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $49,984

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Mathematics and Computer Science

BachCIP: 3008

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $118,943

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Mathematics

BachCIP: 2701

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$25,194

Natl Median: $69,562

Lifetime Value Added

-$366k

Music

BachCIP: 5009

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $42,892

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Natural Resources Conservation and Research

BachCIP: 0301

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$26,353

Natl Median: $55,012

Lifetime Value Added

-$355k

Philosophy

BachCIP: 3801

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$18,771

Natl Median: $54,455

Lifetime Value Added

-$425k

Physics

BachCIP: 4008

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $76,786

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Political Science and Government

BachCIP: 4510

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$36,848

Natl Median: $63,293

Lifetime Value Added

-$260k

Psychology, General

BachCIP: 4201

Median Debt

$24,250

Earnings (4yr)

$55,288

Natl Median: $50,706

Lifetime Value Added

-$117k

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

Earnings (2yr)

$24,035

Natl Median: $55,000

Lifetime Value Added

-$376k

Sociology and Anthropology

BachCIP: 4513

Median Debt

$18,490

Earnings (4yr)

$52,622

Natl Median: $46,959

Lifetime Value Added

-$139k

Sociology

BachCIP: 4511

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$52,232

Natl Median: $52,657

Lifetime Value Added

-$142k

Master's Degrees

Education, General

MastCIP: 1301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $65,824

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Educational Administration and Supervision

MastCIP: 1304

Median Debt

$41,000

Earnings (4yr)

$66,472

Natl Median: $71,685

Lifetime Value Added

-$120k

Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies

MastCIP: 2202

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $101,000

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions

MastCIP: 5115

Median Debt

$119,806

Earnings (4yr)

$67,080

Natl Median: $59,571

Lifetime Value Added

-$115k

Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions

MastCIP: 5123

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $71,416

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Special Education and Teaching

MastCIP: 1310

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $64,397

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Student Counseling and Personnel Services

MastCIP: 1311

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$65,440

Natl Median: $60,111

Lifetime Value Added

-$129k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

MastCIP: 1312

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$62,852

Natl Median: $59,916

Lifetime Value Added

-$153k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

MastCIP: 1313

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$62,755

Natl Median: $63,707

Lifetime Value Added

-$153k

Doctoral Degrees

Educational Administration and Supervision

DocCIP: 1304

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $100,573

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Law

DocCIP: 2201

Median Debt

$149,506

Earnings (4yr)

$97,491

Natl Median: $105,518

Lifetime Value Added

-$54k

Professional Degrees

Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology

ProfCIP: 4228

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$69,745

Natl Median: $70,514

Lifetime Value Added

-$260k

Other Programs

Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology

DegCIP: 4228

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $72,395

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Educational Administration and Supervision

DegCIP: 1304

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $90,560

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Student Counseling and Personnel Services

DegCIP: 1311

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $65,259

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

DegCIP: 1312

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $57,802

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

DegCIP: 1313

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $59,347

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language

DegCIP: 1314

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $58,231

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. 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.