College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Rockford University

Rockford, IL 956 Undergrads 50.1% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$47,033
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$23,066
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,794
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$23,066
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$54,794
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate50.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients46.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time92.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
57.2%
SAT Avg
984
SAT Reading
25th: 45050575th: 535
SAT Math
25th: 40049575th: 535
ACT Composite
25th: 172175th: 23

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
+$476k
+$79k
-$9k
Median Cost$23k/yr
+$393k
-$4k
-$92k
Full Cost$47k/yr
+$307k
-$90k
-$178k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$23k/yr
Never
-110%
Full Cost$47k/yr
Never
-105%
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-98%

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-87%
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

Bachelor's Degrees

Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$239k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$69,400
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,952
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,541
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$26,980
Earnings (5yr)
$75,490
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Social Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,793
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$26,600
Earnings (5yr)
$44,321
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (5yr)
$45,315
Lifetime Value Added
-$161k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$32,450
Earnings (5yr)
$101,475
Lifetime Value Added
+$410k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,198
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k

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.