College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Lycoming College

Williamsport, PA 1,049 Undergrads 62.9% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$61,526
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$19,258
After Aid
Median Earnings
$56,210
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$19,258
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$56,210
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate62.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients41.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
67.9%
SAT Avg
1,169
SAT Reading
25th: 54058575th: 643
SAT Math
25th: 53058075th: 630
ACT Composite
25th: 232575th: 30

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
+$487k
+$91k
+$3k
Median Cost$19k/yr
+$418k
+$21k
-$67k
Full Cost$62k/yr
+$266k
-$131k
-$219k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
60
Median Cost$19k/yr
Never
-96%
Full Cost$62k/yr
Never
-99%
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-90%

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-88%
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
$26,516
Earnings (5yr)
$63,950
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$64,544
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Classical and Ancient Studies
BachCIP: 3022
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,325
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$54,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,594
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,374
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$47,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$39,332
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,233
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k

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.