College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Mount St. Mary's University

Emmitsburg, MD 1,806 Undergrads 64.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$62,078
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$24,987
After Aid
Median Earnings
$64,072
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$24,987
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$64,072
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate64.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients27.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time94.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS78.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
71.9%
SAT Avg
1,141
SAT Reading
25th: 520-75th: 660
SAT Math
25th: 510-75th: 620
ACT Composite
25th: 19-75th: 23

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
+$548k
+$152k
+$64k
Median Cost$25k/yr
+$458k
+$62k
-$26k
Full Cost$62k/yr
+$325k
-$71k
-$159k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
36
Median Cost$25k/yr
Never
-29%
Full Cost$62k/yr
Never
-71%
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-41%

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-75%
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
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$75,754
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$58,540
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (5yr)
$76,055
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$26,312
Earnings (5yr)
$52,280
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$76,537
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,409
Lifetime Value Added
-$278k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$246k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,060
Lifetime Value Added
-$236k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$32,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$260k
Research and Experimental Psychology
BachCIP: 4227
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$49,357
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$35,952
Lifetime Value Added
-$228k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Theological and Ministerial Studies
BachCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,563
Lifetime Value Added
-$259k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$20,712
Earnings (5yr)
$98,996
Lifetime Value Added
+$385k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$90,412
Lifetime Value Added
+$359k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$31,066
Earnings (2yr)
$48,432
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Theological and Ministerial Studies
MastCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,307
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k

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.