College ROI

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Otterbein University

Westerville, OH 2,055 Undergrads 65.7% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$47,865
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$22,140
After Aid
Median Earnings
$53,313
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$22,140
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$53,313
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate65.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients30.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time95.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
83.3%
SAT Avg
1,220
SAT Reading
25th: -56575th: -
SAT Math
25th: -56675th: -
ACT Composite
25th: 232375th: 28

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
+$464k
+$68k
-$20k
Median Cost$22k/yr
+$384k
-$12k
-$100k
Full Cost$48k/yr
+$292k
-$105k
-$193k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$22k/yr
Never
-126%
Full Cost$48k/yr
Never
-112%
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-110%

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-90%
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
-
Earnings (5yr)
$73,311
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,862
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$72,883
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (5yr)
$39,136
Lifetime Value Added
-$210k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$26,822
Earnings (5yr)
$37,633
Lifetime Value Added
-$222k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$35,903
Lifetime Value Added
-$237k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
BachCIP: 5100
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$75,602
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,388
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$47,615
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$63,902
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$74,143
Lifetime Value Added
+$70k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$21,025
Earnings (5yr)
$44,982
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,265
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management
BachCIP: 0306
Median Debt
$25,850
Earnings (2yr)
$23,456
Lifetime Value Added
-$332k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$75,339
Lifetime Value Added
+$187k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$60,824
Earnings (5yr)
$140,745
Lifetime Value Added
+$746k

Doctoral Degrees

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$144,240
Lifetime Value Added
+$600k

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.