College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Rivier University

Nashua, NH 1,312 Undergrads 60.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$50,999
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$27,692
After Aid
Median Earnings
$52,248
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$27,692
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$52,248
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate60.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients28.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time75.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS87.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
81.8%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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
+$455k
+$59k
-$29k
Median Cost$28k/yr
+$356k
-$41k
-$129k
Full Cost$51k/yr
+$272k
-$125k
-$212k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$28k/yr
Never
-129%
Full Cost$51k/yr
Never
-116%
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-117%

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-92%
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

Associate's Degrees

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$23,557
Earnings (5yr)
$64,112
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k

Bachelor's Degrees

Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$34,704
Lifetime Value Added
-$249k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$26,147
Earnings (5yr)
$69,272
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$36,672
Lifetime Value Added
-$250k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,019
Lifetime Value Added
-$310k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,244
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$26,200
Earnings (5yr)
$84,892
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$26,200
Earnings (5yr)
$49,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$91,210
Lifetime Value Added
+$313k
Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,937
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$39,441
Earnings (5yr)
$115,222
Lifetime Value Added
+$519k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,700
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$40,440
Earnings (5yr)
$52,753
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,141
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k

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.