College ROI

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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Troy, NY 5,714 Undergrads 84.5% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$85,291
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$32,758
After Aid
Median Earnings
$101,988
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$32,758
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$101,988
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$113,011
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate84.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)19.6
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients21.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS91.4%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
63.5%
SAT Avg
1,456
SAT Reading
25th: 67071075th: 740
SAT Math
25th: 70574075th: 770
ACT Composite
25th: 303375th: 34

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

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
+$847k
+$377k
+$360k
Median Cost$33k/yr
+$729k
+$259k
+$243k
Full Cost$85k/yr
+$540k
+$70k
+$54k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
26
∞
Median Cost$33k/yr
32
206%
Full Cost$85k/yr
50
17%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
  • 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 Return122%

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-30%

Program ROI Analysis

These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (4yr)
$94,750
Natl Median: $98,207
Lifetime Value Added
+$203k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,074
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (4yr)
$75,551
Natl Median: $66,914
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
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Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$73,621
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
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Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$69,417
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,713
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,125
Earnings (4yr)
$103,306
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$268k
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Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (4yr)
$99,713
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$241k
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Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$98,679
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$233k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$86,794
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k
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Cognitive Science
BachCIP: 3025
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,496
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$115,100
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$357k
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Median Debt
$22,125
Earnings (4yr)
$125,531
Natl Median: $83,742
Lifetime Value Added
+$436k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$22,375
Earnings (4yr)
$141,528
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$556k
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Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$87,358
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
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Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (2yr)
$68,790
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
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Median Debt
$21,094
Earnings (4yr)
$104,596
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$278k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$81,743
Natl Median: $81,171
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,718
Earnings (4yr)
$98,509
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$231k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$82,947
Natl Median: $91,449
Lifetime Value Added
+$113k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$105,768
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$287k
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Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$92,952
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$189k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$83,958
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Non-Professional Legal Studies
BachCIP: 2200
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,959
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Nuclear Engineering
BachCIP: 1423
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$87,239
Natl Median: $99,297
Lifetime Value Added
+$145k
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Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$81,840
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (5yr)
$75,306
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$103,680
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
+$255k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,452
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,887
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$103,804
Natl Median: $122,434
Lifetime Value Added
+$196k
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Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$114,450
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
+$307k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,139
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,271
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$71,854
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$104,117
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$217k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,468
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$94,858
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
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Cognitive Science
MastCIP: 3025
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,800
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$88,198
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$109k
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Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$200,027
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$1044k
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Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$69,338
Natl Median: $97,366
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,629
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $119,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$112,190
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$287k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,282
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$107,173
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$244k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,520
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Nuclear Engineering
MastCIP: 1423
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $117,400
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Systems Engineering
MastCIP: 1427
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $144,565
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,460
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,660
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,683
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,848
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $113,566
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $141,187
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Cognitive Science
DocCIP: 3025
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $118,884
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,931
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
DocCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $178,476
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $157,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,039
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,845
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
DocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,070
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $143,572
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,153
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,489
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

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 decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.