College ROI

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Rhode Island College

Providence, RI 5,049 Undergrads 54.5% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$18,940
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$10,959
After Aid
Median Earnings
$61,045
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$10,959
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$61,045
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$60,399
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate54.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)22.4
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients43.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time85.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS73.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
91.8%
SAT Avg
990
SAT Reading
25th: 45051075th: 580
SAT Math
25th: 42048075th: 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
+$537k
+$67k
+$51k
Median Cost$11k/yr
+$498k
+$28k
+$11k
Full Cost$19k/yr
+$469k
-$977
-$17k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
38
∞
Median Cost$11k/yr
54
29%
Full Cost$19k/yr
Never
-25%
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 Return56%

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 →

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,384
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
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International/Globalization Studies
CertCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,099
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$15,960
Earnings (4yr)
$68,616
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
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Median Debt
$26,058
Earnings (4yr)
$84,238
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$201k
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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
$14,645
Earnings (4yr)
$58,779
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
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Median Debt
$15,802
Earnings (4yr)
$58,221
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,959
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (4yr)
$51,105
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$83,259
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$193k
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Median Debt
$15,736
Earnings (4yr)
$58,156
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
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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
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,335
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
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Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (4yr)
$48,948
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,144
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$38,838
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$70,470
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
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Median Debt
$19,666
Earnings (4yr)
$41,883
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
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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
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,195
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
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Median Debt
$20,197
Earnings (4yr)
$50,854
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,105
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
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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
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,873
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$145k
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Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$17,504
Earnings (4yr)
$57,119
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,410
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,379
Natl Median: $52,119
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,090
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,516
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,514
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
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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
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,540
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$17,171
Earnings (4yr)
$52,758
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
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Psychology, Other
BachCIP: 4299
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,020
Natl Median: $50,748
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,452
Earnings (4yr)
$83,068
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$192k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,378
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,925
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
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Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$19,462
Earnings (4yr)
$53,312
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$16,450
Earnings (4yr)
$59,643
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,477
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
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Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$49,069
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
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Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$53,057
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$90,891
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
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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
-$25k
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Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
$11,870
Earnings (4yr)
$78,105
Natl Median: $65,348
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
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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
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$39,872
Earnings (5yr)
$65,631
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
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Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$138,536
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$556k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$22,181
Earnings (4yr)
$69,017
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
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Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$66,310
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,181
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,316
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
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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
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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
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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

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.