College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Post University

Waterbury, CT 18,975 Undergrads 18.4% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$27,202
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$19,196
After Aid
Median Earnings
$38,696
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$19,196
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$38,696
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate18.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients73.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time37.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS51.7%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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
+$344k
-$52k
-$140k
Median Cost$19k/yr
+$275k
-$121k
-$209k
Full Cost$27k/yr
+$246k
-$150k
-$238k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$19k/yr
Never
-303%
Full Cost$27k/yr
Never
-243%
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-323%

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-128%
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

Associate's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
AssocCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$33,118
Earnings (5yr)
$48,971
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$34,470
Earnings (5yr)
$63,752
Lifetime Value Added
+$133k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$29,745
Earnings (5yr)
$47,819
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$28,361
Earnings (5yr)
$31,312
Lifetime Value Added
-$182k
Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate)
AssocCIP: 2200
Median Debt
$31,761
Earnings (5yr)
$46,958
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k

Bachelor's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (5yr)
$72,984
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$29,772
Earnings (5yr)
$68,955
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$29,000
Earnings (5yr)
$54,147
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$28,490
Earnings (5yr)
$50,023
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$37,587
Earnings (5yr)
$40,344
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k
Human Services, General
BachCIP: 4400
Median Debt
$45,694
Earnings (5yr)
$50,579
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$30,943
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$29,875
Earnings (5yr)
$51,531
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate)
BachCIP: 2200
Median Debt
$35,456
Earnings (5yr)
$39,759
Lifetime Value Added
-$194k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$35,072
Earnings (5yr)
$49,661
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Accounting and Related Services
PB-CertCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,263
Lifetime Value Added
+$206k
Human Resources Management and Services
PB-CertCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,285
Lifetime Value Added
+$139k
Legal Support Services
PB-CertCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,790
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k

Master's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$32,878
Earnings (2yr)
$68,219
Lifetime Value Added
+$167k
Business/Commerce, General
MastCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$50,937
Earnings (5yr)
$101,458
Lifetime Value Added
+$417k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$40,259
Earnings (5yr)
$67,221
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
Human Services, General
MastCIP: 4400
Median Debt
$55,120
Earnings (5yr)
$58,996
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$54,508
Earnings (2yr)
$76,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$242k

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.