College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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McDaniel College

Westminster, MD 1,652 Undergrads 66.0% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$62,974
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$20,923
After Aid
Median Earnings
$60,663
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$20,923
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$60,663
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate66.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients34.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.7%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
83.6%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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
+$522k
+$126k
+$38k
Median Cost$21k/yr
+$447k
+$50k
-$38k
Full Cost$63k/yr
+$295k
-$101k
-$189k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
40
Median Cost$21k/yr
Never
-50%
Full Cost$63k/yr
Never
-83%
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-63%

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-81%
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
$23,335
Earnings (5yr)
$82,620
Lifetime Value Added
+$138k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$17,470
Lifetime Value Added
-$383k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,375
Earnings (5yr)
$57,664
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$79,062
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (5yr)
$62,755
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$60,623
Lifetime Value Added
+$491
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,942
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,857
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,427
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,069
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,925
Lifetime Value Added
-$241k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (2yr)
$21,508
Lifetime Value Added
-$345k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$25,300
Earnings (5yr)
$49,413
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,248
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$20,110
Earnings (5yr)
$56,787
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$54,923
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k

Master's Degrees

Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$79,147
Lifetime Value Added
+$222k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,940
Lifetime Value Added
+$90k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$51,237
Earnings (5yr)
$58,887
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,937
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$71,545
Lifetime Value Added
+$156k

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.