College ROI

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Montclair State University

Montclair, NJ 18,376 Undergrads 70.0% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$28,305
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$15,566
After Aid
Median Earnings
$61,351
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$15,566
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$61,351
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$61,415
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate70.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age21.2
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients46.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time93.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS73.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
87.9%
SAT Avg
1,070
SAT Reading
25th: 48055575th: 620
SAT Math
25th: 43055575th: 590
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$547k
+$80k
+$62k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$490k
+$24k
+$6k
Full Cost$28k/yr
+$445k
-$22k
-$40k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
36
∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
59
11%
Full Cost$28k/yr
Never
-39%
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 Return25%

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-46%
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

Certificates

Social Work
CertCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$84,906
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$187k
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,435
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$47,225
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$81,519
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$161k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$23,486
Earnings (4yr)
$67,541
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$68,235
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,401
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$59,247
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$79,692
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,587
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
$26,776
Earnings (4yr)
$39,064
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
-$180k
Median Debt
$25,375
Earnings (4yr)
$56,176
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$39,248
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$178k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (4yr)
$66,148
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,125
Earnings (4yr)
$45,337
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,429
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,511
Natl Median: $48,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,790
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Median Debt
$26,998
Earnings (4yr)
$43,564
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Median Debt
$22,616
Earnings (4yr)
$59,866
Natl Median: $54,945
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,285
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (4yr)
$65,826
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,160
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,575
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,579
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Median Debt
$23,875
Earnings (4yr)
$61,036
Natl Median: $57,149
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Median Debt
$22,551
Earnings (4yr)
$51,469
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Median Debt
$26,375
Earnings (4yr)
$42,017
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$22,125
Earnings (4yr)
$68,371
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,612
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$58,236
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,418
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (4yr)
$60,984
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$48,464
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,681
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (4yr)
$62,999
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$109,167
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$372k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (4yr)
$55,208
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$22,375
Earnings (4yr)
$51,646
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$52,053
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,308
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,887
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$65,007
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,156
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
-$162k

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
PB-CertCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,636
Natl Median: $59,439
Lifetime Value Added
-$161k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$110,692
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$286k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,271
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
-$424k
Median Debt
$37,409
Earnings (4yr)
$117,544
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$365k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$36,500
Earnings (4yr)
$81,192
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$44,000
Earnings (4yr)
$67,490
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$108,975
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$290k
Dance
MastCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,404
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$28,660
Earnings (4yr)
$65,095
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Median Debt
$27,500
Earnings (4yr)
$87,244
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$67,155
Natl Median: $66,523
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,524
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,288
Natl Median: $101,855
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,787
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $129,214
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,383
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$35,842
Earnings (4yr)
$66,259
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,657
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$38,892
Earnings (4yr)
$66,833
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,897
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,784
Earnings (4yr)
$70,662
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,509
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,196
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$91,810
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,010
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,655
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Sciences, General
Gr-CertCIP: 4501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,031
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
Gr-CertCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$82,838
Natl Median: $69,362
Lifetime Value Added
+$144k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$78,053
Natl Median: $64,774
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
DocCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,718
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,538
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,794
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,822
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,308
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,406
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,802
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. 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.