College ROI

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Roosevelt University

Chicago, IL 2,849 Undergrads 49.5% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$35,332
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$20,194
After Aid
Median Earnings
$58,796
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$20,194
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$58,796
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$48,712
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate49.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age23.8
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients49.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time88.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS69.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
97.2%
SAT Avg
1,011
SAT Reading
25th: 46550575th: 600
SAT Math
25th: 43048575th: 575
ACT Composite
25th: 182475th: 26

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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$526k
+$59k
+$42k
Median Cost$20k/yr
+$453k
-$14k
-$31k
Full Cost$35k/yr
+$399k
-$68k
-$86k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
40
∞
Median Cost$20k/yr
Never
-43%
Full Cost$35k/yr
Never
-67%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-28%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-64%
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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,393
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,245
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$228k
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$42,686
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Median Debt
$14,166
Earnings (4yr)
$50,026
Natl Median: $54,971
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,498
Natl Median: $39,605
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Median Debt
$13,417
Earnings (4yr)
$35,066
Natl Median: $38,127
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Median Debt
$15,250
Earnings (4yr)
$41,138
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
AssocCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,866
Natl Median: $40,162
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (4yr)
$65,839
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$63,274
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,180
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$70,005
Natl Median: $65,784
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$229k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,384
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,872
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,964
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Median Debt
$22,437
Earnings (4yr)
$63,081
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Median Debt
$25,048
Earnings (4yr)
$29,529
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$279k
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$37,748
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$208k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$309k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,490
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$69,720
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,409
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$261k
Median Debt
$18,283
Earnings (4yr)
$57,617
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,329
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$229k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,771
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$258k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$66,600
Natl Median: $53,266
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$88,995
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$189k
Median Debt
$24,632
Earnings (4yr)
$69,382
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,573
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,105
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$48,547
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$24,232
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$326k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$68,226
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (4yr)
$52,049
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$29,000
Earnings (4yr)
$75,716
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,041
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,933
Natl Median: $57,887
Lifetime Value Added
-$293k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$56,521
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Legal Support Services
PB-CertCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,073
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$40,879
Earnings (4yr)
$98,834
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$193k
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
MastCIP: 5010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,685
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,241
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$35,500
Earnings (4yr)
$67,783
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Biotechnology
MastCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$89,530
Natl Median: $107,682
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
Median Debt
$33,831
Earnings (4yr)
$82,149
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,476
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Median Debt
$55,400
Earnings (4yr)
$63,007
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Dispute Resolution
MastCIP: 3028
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,725
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,247
Natl Median: $74,856
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Median Debt
$45,158
Earnings (4yr)
$86,632
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$98,222
Natl Median: $106,092
Lifetime Value Added
+$188k
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$59,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,261
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$39,903
Earnings (4yr)
$41,219
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$330k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,363
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
Real Estate
MastCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $135,104
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,432
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$240k
Median Debt
$40,460
Earnings (4yr)
$67,560
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
$127,304
Earnings (4yr)
$108,933
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$162,513
Earnings (4yr)
$139,114
Natl Median: $136,696
Lifetime Value Added
+$310k

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.