College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Northeastern University Oakland

Oakland, CA 464 Undergrads - Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$85,418
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$25,181
After Aid
Median Earnings
$101,903
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$25,181
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$101,903
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$92,538
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate-
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age21.6
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients26.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time100.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS88.7%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
16.7%
SAT Avg
1,472
SAT Reading
25th: 69073675th: 740
SAT Math
25th: 73066075th: 780
ACT Composite
25th: 323175th: 33

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
+$857k
+$391k
+$373k
Median Cost$25k/yr
+$767k
+$300k
+$282k
Full Cost$85k/yr
+$550k
+$83k
+$66k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
25
∞
Median Cost$25k/yr
30
312%
Full Cost$85k/yr
49
21%
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 Return131%

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-27%
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

Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$24,802
Earnings (4yr)
$78,327
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$103k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$113,620
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$371k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$22,583
Earnings (4yr)
$163,708
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$748k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$101,423
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$279k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$80,233
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k

Master's Degrees

Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$145,909
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$592k
Computer Engineering
MastCIP: 1409
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Graphic Communications
MastCIP: 1003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,810
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. 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.