College ROI

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Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester, NY 13,215 Undergrads 73.2% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$74,626
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$34,906
After Aid
Median Earnings
$84,133
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$34,906
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$84,133
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$76,571
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate73.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age20.1
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients28.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time97.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS81.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
66.9%
SAT Avg
1,383
SAT Reading
25th: 65067075th: 720
SAT Math
25th: 65069075th: 740
ACT Composite
25th: 293175th: 33

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
+$722k
+$255k
+$237k
Median Cost$35k/yr
+$596k
+$129k
+$112k
Full Cost$75k/yr
+$453k
-$14k
-$31k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
27
∞
Median Cost$35k/yr
38
89%
Full Cost$75k/yr
Never
-12%
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 Return69%

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-44%
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
$18,892
Earnings (4yr)
$86,002
Natl Median: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
+$419k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,600
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,587
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,927
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,246
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $38,127
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,895
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,099
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,574
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Woodworking
AssocCIP: 4807
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,867
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$23,763
Earnings (4yr)
$72,830
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$100,680
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$238k
Median Debt
$24,584
Earnings (4yr)
$45,330
Natl Median: $45,044
Lifetime Value Added
-$196k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$76,069
Natl Median: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,358
Natl Median: $44,889
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$23,401
Earnings (4yr)
$68,862
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,713
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$28,308
Earnings (4yr)
$94,103
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$188k
Biotechnology
BachCIP: 2612
Median Debt
$23,937
Earnings (4yr)
$74,613
Natl Median: $67,097
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Median Debt
$19,687
Earnings (4yr)
$68,524
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (4yr)
$94,641
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$192k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$24,677
Earnings (4yr)
$68,926
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (4yr)
$83,553
Natl Median: $76,549
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$100,367
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$236k
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (4yr)
$95,491
Natl Median: $83,742
Lifetime Value Added
+$199k
Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (4yr)
$123,027
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$408k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$113,559
Natl Median: $83,439
Lifetime Value Added
+$336k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$135,702
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$503k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$88,096
Natl Median: $58,894
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (4yr)
$97,118
Natl Median: $73,587
Lifetime Value Added
+$211k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$138,679
Natl Median: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
+$525k
Median Debt
$24,686
Earnings (4yr)
$52,704
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Median Debt
$26,646
Earnings (4yr)
$52,043
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$27,082
Earnings (2yr)
$50,270
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$105,068
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$272k
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
$27,250
Earnings (4yr)
$96,361
Natl Median: $84,599
Lifetime Value Added
+$205k
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1504
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (4yr)
$82,116
Natl Median: $84,304
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$92,780
Natl Median: $89,619
Lifetime Value Added
+$178k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$84,755
Natl Median: $66,185
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,970
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$72,313
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,750
Natl Median: $54,945
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Median Debt
$23,625
Earnings (4yr)
$58,141
Natl Median: $75,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,122
Natl Median: $43,283
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Median Debt
$25,463
Earnings (4yr)
$51,363
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,677
Earnings (4yr)
$105,313
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$273k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$63,845
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$94,827
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$193k
Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (4yr)
$86,226
Natl Median: $82,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$128k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$93,065
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$180k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,096
Natl Median: $73,739
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,787
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Nutrition Sciences
BachCIP: 3019
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,053
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physical Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$63,005
Natl Median: $68,944
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$75,281
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,353
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$351k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$23,908
Earnings (4yr)
$51,577
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,721
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,748
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$91,222
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
+$166k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,959
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Woodworking
BachCIP: 4807
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,488
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $104,114
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,661
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $128,842
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,823
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
-$263k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$142,532
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$545k
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,466
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: $76,398
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$37,545
Earnings (4yr)
$102,151
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$195k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$90,637
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$162,539
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$718k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,083
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $114,420
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,073
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$116,674
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$322k
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
MastCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,068
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,215
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$74,576
Natl Median: $90,955
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,486
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,856
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$109,684
Natl Median: $119,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$242k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,051
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $122,873
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Materials Sciences
MastCIP: 4010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,810
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$109,087
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$256k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,441
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physical Sciences, General
MastCIP: 4001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,703
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,216
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$104,267
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
+$196k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,897
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$40,467
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$348k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,233
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $154,538
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,630
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.