College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Randolph College

Lynchburg, VA 520 Undergrads 56.6% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$43,838
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$18,436
After Aid
Median Earnings
$53,409
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$18,436
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$53,409
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate56.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients40.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time100.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS65.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
94.9%
SAT Avg
1,109
SAT Reading
25th: 52053075th: 580
SAT Math
25th: 44049575th: 630
ACT Composite
25th: 202575th: 24

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
+$465k
+$68k
-$20k
Median Cost$18k/yr
+$398k
+$2k
-$86k
Full Cost$44k/yr
+$307k
-$89k
-$177k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$18k/yr
Never
-130%
Full Cost$44k/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-88%
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
$26,373
Earnings (2yr)
$28,598
Lifetime Value Added
-$271k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$18,771
Lifetime Value Added
-$362k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (2yr)
$22,771
Lifetime Value Added
-$325k

Master's Degrees

Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$43,575
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k

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.