College ROI

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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Troy, NY 5,714 Undergrads 85.0% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$82,404
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$36,228
After Aid
Median Earnings
$98,311
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$36,228
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$98,311
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$102,051
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate85.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age19.6
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients19.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS90.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
63.5%
SAT Avg
1,456
SAT Reading
25th: 67070075th: 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
+$830k
+$363k
+$346k
Median Cost$36k/yr
+$700k
+$233k
+$215k
Full Cost$82k/yr
+$534k
+$67k
+$49k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
26
∞
Median Cost$36k/yr
33
165%
Full Cost$82k/yr
51
17%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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 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-29%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$24,861
Earnings (4yr)
$94,750
Natl Median: $98,207
Lifetime Value Added
+$188k
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
+$42k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$25,455
Earnings (5yr)
$77,153
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,713
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$103,306
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$253k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$99,713
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$226k
Median Debt
$24,985
Earnings (4yr)
$98,679
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$26,250
Earnings (4yr)
$86,794
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$127k
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
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$115,100
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$343k
Median Debt
$23,582
Earnings (4yr)
$125,531
Natl Median: $83,742
Lifetime Value Added
+$422k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$23,233
Earnings (4yr)
$141,528
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$542k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$87,358
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
+$132k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$92,037
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$104,596
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$263k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$88,236
Natl Median: $81,171
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
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
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$98,509
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$217k
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$82,947
Natl Median: $91,449
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$105,768
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$272k
Median Debt
$24,121
Earnings (4yr)
$92,952
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$174k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$83,958
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
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
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$87,239
Natl Median: $99,297
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$20,270
Earnings (4yr)
$81,840
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$90k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,305
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$311k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$73,497
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$88,506
Natl Median: $122,434
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$114,450
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
+$300k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,757
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
-$47k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$104,117
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$210k
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)
$100,133
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
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
+$102k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$200,027
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$1039k
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
-$70k
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
$112,190
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$280k
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
+$236k
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.