College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Ottawa University-Surprise

Surprise, AZ 836 Undergrads 21.2% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$52,170
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$33,393
After Aid
Median Earnings
$62,228
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$33,393
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$62,228
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate21.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients38.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time92.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS76.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
78.1%
SAT Avg
972
SAT Reading
25th: 44047075th: 590
SAT Math
25th: 40050575th: 570
ACT Composite
25th: 161975th: 21

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
+$553k
+$87k
+$69k
Median Cost$33k/yr
+$433k
-$34k
-$51k
Full Cost$52k/yr
+$366k
-$101k
-$119k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
35
Median Cost$33k/yr
Never
-42%
Full Cost$52k/yr
Never
-63%
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 Return-25%

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-69%
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
$20,696
Earnings (4yr)
$72,368
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$64,798
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$59,445
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Engineering, General
BachCIP: 1401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$20,738
Earnings (4yr)
$82,317
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$103k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$21,941
Earnings (4yr)
$66,759
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Human Services, General
BachCIP: 4400
Median Debt
$24,300
Earnings (4yr)
$52,309
Natl Median: $48,597
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (4yr)
$43,959
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$202k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$45,345
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$198k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,010
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$22,062
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Theology and Religious Vocations, Other
BachCIP: 3999
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,566
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$32,624
Earnings (4yr)
$84,083
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$62,936
Earnings (4yr)
$67,727
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,455
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k

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 degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.