College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Northwest Nazarene University

Nampa, ID 1,138 Undergrads 60.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$50,275
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$25,537
After Aid
Median Earnings
$51,719
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$25,537
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$51,719
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate60.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients30.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time88.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS75.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
62.9%
SAT Avg
1,184
SAT Reading
25th: 47056075th: 620
SAT Math
25th: 47054075th: 590
ACT Composite
25th: 252375th: 31

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
+$451k
+$55k
-$33k
Median Cost$26k/yr
+$359k
-$37k
-$125k
Full Cost$50k/yr
+$270k
-$126k
-$214k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$26k/yr
Never
-136%
Full Cost$50k/yr
Never
-118%
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-122%

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

Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$21,310
Earnings (5yr)
$65,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,281
Lifetime Value Added
-$254k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$77,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$23,959
Earnings (5yr)
$45,827
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$35,838
Earnings (5yr)
$101,232
Lifetime Value Added
+$403k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$34,167
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$54,667
Earnings (5yr)
$55,132
Lifetime Value Added
+$1k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$47,834
Earnings (5yr)
$58,281
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$54,667
Earnings (2yr)
$39,729
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Theological and Ministerial Studies
MastCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,036
Lifetime Value Added
+$73k

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.