College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Millikin University

Decatur, IL 1,458 Undergrads 59.9% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$41,297
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$8,837
After Aid
Median Earnings
$51,262
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$8,837
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$51,262
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate59.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients37.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time96.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS70.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
54.0%
SAT Avg
1,050
SAT Reading
25th: 45054575th: 600
SAT Math
25th: 41053075th: 570
ACT Composite
25th: 142375th: 24

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
+$447k
+$51k
-$37k
Median Cost$9k/yr
+$416k
+$19k
-$69k
Full Cost$41k/yr
+$299k
-$98k
-$186k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$9k/yr
Never
-216%
Full Cost$41k/yr
Never
-125%
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-131%

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-93%
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
$26,926
Earnings (5yr)
$62,366
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,631
Earnings (5yr)
$59,952
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,166
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$21,149
Earnings (5yr)
$47,358
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$35,442
Lifetime Value Added
-$193k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$42,885
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$94,021
Lifetime Value Added
+$267k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$72,026
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$26,996
Earnings (5yr)
$38,433
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,700
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$77,191
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (5yr)
$53,182
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$25,446
Earnings (5yr)
$40,735
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$49,259
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Visual and Performing Arts, Other
BachCIP: 5099
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (2yr)
$22,999
Lifetime Value Added
-$288k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$110,548
Lifetime Value Added
+$514k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$197,436
Lifetime Value Added
+$1351k

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.