College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Niagara University

Niagara University, NY 2,713 Undergrads 74.2% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$50,174
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$18,740
After Aid
Median Earnings
$56,196
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$18,740
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$56,196
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate74.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients27.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
85.3%
SAT Avg
1,155
SAT Reading
25th: 51057075th: 630
SAT Math
25th: 52057775th: 610
ACT Composite
25th: 232575th: 27

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
+$420k
+$23k
-$65k
Full Cost$50k/yr
+$306k
-$90k
-$178k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
60
Median Cost$19k/yr
Never
-96%
Full Cost$50k/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-88%

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-85%
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
$23,658
Earnings (5yr)
$64,550
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,737
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (5yr)
$69,977
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,075
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (2yr)
$37,208
Lifetime Value Added
-$194k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,825
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$25,093
Earnings (5yr)
$54,265
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$25,280
Earnings (5yr)
$72,540
Lifetime Value Added
+$71k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,055
Lifetime Value Added
-$277k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$26,211
Earnings (5yr)
$86,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$172k
Research and Experimental Psychology
BachCIP: 4227
Median Debt
$26,997
Earnings (5yr)
$49,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$25,750
Earnings (5yr)
$52,697
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$26,026
Earnings (5yr)
$43,071
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k

Master's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$75,254
Lifetime Value Added
+$192k
Business/Commerce, General
MastCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$28,641
Earnings (5yr)
$99,537
Lifetime Value Added
+$401k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$40,813
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,369
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$34,325
Earnings (5yr)
$54,195
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,151
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k

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.