College ROI

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Lipscomb University

Nashville, TN 2,997 Undergrads 67.7% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$55,117
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$24,739
After Aid
Median Earnings
$63,007
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$24,739
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$63,007
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$55,541
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate67.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age23.9
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients24.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time95.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS78.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
67.7%
SAT Avg
1,256
SAT Reading
25th: 59060075th: 700
SAT Math
25th: 57058575th: 680
ACT Composite
25th: 232675th: 30

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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$560k
+$93k
+$75k
Median Cost$25k/yr
+$471k
+$4k
-$14k
Full Cost$55k/yr
+$361k
-$106k
-$123k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
34
∞
Median Cost$25k/yr
Never
-15%
Full Cost$55k/yr
Never
-62%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-24%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-69%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $38,011
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$23,732
Earnings (4yr)
$83,930
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$147k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,533
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,619
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$24,375
Earnings (4yr)
$54,965
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Median Debt
$21,082
Earnings (4yr)
$80,751
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$123k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,253
Earnings (4yr)
$52,267
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,894
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,753
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
-$284k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,508
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$359k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,317
Earnings (4yr)
$61,167
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Literature
BachCIP: 2314
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,173
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$77,996
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$93,990
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$224k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,036
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Non-Professional Legal Studies
BachCIP: 2200
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$66,804
Natl Median: $61,959
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,915
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,610
Earnings (4yr)
$47,933
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$74,051
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$71k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,625
Earnings (4yr)
$42,863
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$180k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,938
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,631
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,250
Earnings (4yr)
$44,328
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,544
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,566
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,165
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,135
Natl Median: $58,414
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$106,199
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$249k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,028
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$32,238
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,271
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$90,589
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
Median Debt
$58,215
Earnings (4yr)
$56,187
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$193k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $139,553
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$127,250
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$432k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$59,936
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k
Median Debt
$25,506
Earnings (4yr)
$73,891
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
MastCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,563
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,486
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$66,077
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,441
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$61,583
Earnings (4yr)
$53,211
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$222k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,350
Natl Median: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,267
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,466
Earnings (4yr)
$63,058
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,590
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,534
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,213
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,190
Natl Median: $61,300
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$103,294
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,982
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Median Debt
$269,705
Earnings (4yr)
$135,760
Natl Median: $138,348
Lifetime Value Added
+$269k

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.