College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Presbyterian College

Clinton, SC 862 Undergrads 62.9% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$57,271
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$20,899
After Aid
Median Earnings
$60,194
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$20,899
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$60,194
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate62.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients30.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS79.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
72.3%
SAT Avg
1,214
SAT Reading
25th: 55055575th: 650
SAT Math
25th: 53056075th: 630
ACT Composite
25th: 222375th: 27

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
+$518k
+$122k
+$34k
Median Cost$21k/yr
+$443k
+$47k
-$41k
Full Cost$57k/yr
+$312k
-$84k
-$172k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
41
Median Cost$21k/yr
Never
-55%
Full Cost$57k/yr
Never
-83%
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-62%

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-80%
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
$24,799
Earnings (5yr)
$59,898
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$24,625
Earnings (5yr)
$64,869
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,443
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$47,096
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,312
Lifetime Value Added
-$210k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$58,761
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$55,558
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,518
Lifetime Value Added
-$235k

Doctoral Degrees

Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
DocCIP: 5120
Median Debt
$213,769
Earnings (5yr)
$137,204
Lifetime Value Added
+$490k

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.