College ROI

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Rivier University

Nashua, NH 1,231 Undergrads 61.5% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$54,513
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$26,585
After Aid
Median Earnings
$81,795
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$26,585
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$81,795
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$72,105
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate61.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)24.2
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients29.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time79.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS84.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
82.6%
SAT Avg
1,070
SAT Reading
25th: 54555075th: 590
SAT Math
25th: 51052075th: 585
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
+$696k
+$226k
+$209k
Median Cost$27k/yr
+$600k
+$130k
+$114k
Full Cost$55k/yr
+$500k
+$30k
+$13k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
28
∞
Median Cost$27k/yr
37
119%
Full Cost$55k/yr
58
7%
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 Return103%

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-33%

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)
-
Natl Median: $80,020
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
$20,391
Earnings (4yr)
$79,592
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$276k

Bachelor's Degrees

Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$34,704
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$246k
Median Debt
$24,125
Earnings (4yr)
$69,102
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Homeland Security
BachCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,193
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,598
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$301k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,019
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$307k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,686
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,965
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$91,727
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$202k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,523
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$88,901
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Natl Median: $65,348
Lifetime Value Added
-$323k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,294
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$39,250
Earnings (4yr)
$127,230
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$429k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,206
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,672
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$260k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,141
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$379k

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
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.