College ROI

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Rhode Island College

Providence, RI 5,049 Undergrads 54.6% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$17,454
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$9,478
After Aid
Median Earnings
$59,430
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$9,478
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$59,430
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$56,318
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate54.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age22.4
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients43.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time85.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS76.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
91.8%
SAT Avg
990
SAT Reading
25th: 450-75th: 580
SAT Math
25th: 420-75th: 540
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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
+$531k
+$64k
+$47k
Median Cost$9k/yr
+$497k
+$30k
+$13k
Full Cost$17k/yr
+$468k
+$1k
-$16k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
38
∞
Median Cost$9k/yr
53
37%
Full Cost$17k/yr
Never
-26%
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 Return59%

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-24%
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

Certificates

Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$41,384
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
International/Globalization Studies
CertCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,099
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
CertCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$16,663
Natl Median: $43,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$278k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$15,783
Earnings (4yr)
$68,616
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$85k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,559
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,152
Earnings (4yr)
$84,238
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$204k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$58,779
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Median Debt
$19,033
Earnings (4yr)
$58,221
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$14,250
Earnings (4yr)
$66,959
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,875
Earnings (4yr)
$51,105
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$92,443
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$253k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$22,801
Earnings (4yr)
$83,259
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$197k
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$58,156
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,061
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,034
Earnings (4yr)
$50,335
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,091
Earnings (4yr)
$48,948
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Median Debt
$18,433
Earnings (4yr)
$44,144
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,041
Earnings (4yr)
$70,470
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (4yr)
$41,883
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Gerontology
BachCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,051
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,705
Earnings (4yr)
$57,195
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Median Debt
$24,641
Earnings (4yr)
$50,854
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$21,650
Earnings (4yr)
$46,105
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,060
Earnings (4yr)
$76,873
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$18,962
Earnings (4yr)
$57,119
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,410
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$114k
Median Debt
$26,463
Earnings (4yr)
$51,379
Natl Median: $52,119
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$14,133
Earnings (4yr)
$51,090
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Median Debt
$20,437
Earnings (4yr)
$54,516
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Median Debt
$20,784
Earnings (4yr)
$48,514
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,928
Earnings (4yr)
$54,540
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,758
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Psychology, Other
BachCIP: 4299
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,748
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,750
Earnings (4yr)
$83,068
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$195k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,378
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$21,633
Earnings (4yr)
$53,312
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$17,805
Earnings (4yr)
$59,643
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Median Debt
$25,781
Earnings (4yr)
$56,477
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,887
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,481
Earnings (4yr)
$49,069
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,057
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$89,865
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$119k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,898
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
$6,000
Earnings (4yr)
$78,105
Natl Median: $65,348
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$71,575
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$928
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Literature
MastCIP: 2314
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,337
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$138,536
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$558k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$32,666
Earnings (4yr)
$69,017
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,310
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,181
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,316
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,995
Natl Median: $65,509
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,191
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,742
Natl Median: $60,655
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Public Health
Gr-CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,684
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,611
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,147
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,709
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Education, General
ProfCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,062
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Other Programs

Education, Other
DegCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,262
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,802
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.