College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Russell Sage College

Troy, NY 1,244 Undergrads 66.6% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$50,607
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$22,917
After Aid
Median Earnings
$66,409
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$22,917
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$66,409
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate66.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients43.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time97.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS75.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
53.3%
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
+$586k
+$119k
+$102k
Median Cost$23k/yr
+$504k
+$37k
+$19k
Full Cost$51k/yr
+$404k
-$63k
-$80k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
32
Median Cost$23k/yr
52
24%
Full Cost$51k/yr
Never
-44%
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 Return10%

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-59%
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

Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,125
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 2699
Median Debt
$24,375
Earnings (4yr)
$70,329
Natl Median: $65,681
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$58,753
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other
BachCIP: 1199
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,632
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$51,485
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
BachCIP: 2613
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 5199
Median Debt
$21,369
Earnings (4yr)
$68,647
Natl Median: $68,245
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,347
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$36,541
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$234k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Nutrition Sciences
BachCIP: 3019
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,513
Natl Median: $60,053
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Physical Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 4099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,096
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,995
Earnings (4yr)
$50,446
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Public Administration
BachCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$21,960
Earnings (4yr)
$89,836
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$199k
Social Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 4599
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,363
Natl Median: $56,812
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$51,080
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Visual and Performing Arts, Other
BachCIP: 5099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,629
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
PB-CertCIP: 5199
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,006
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Nutrition Sciences
PB-CertCIP: 3019
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$35,864
Earnings (4yr)
$78,852
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,917
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Nutrition Sciences
MastCIP: 3019
Median Debt
$40,790
Earnings (4yr)
$65,977
Natl Median: $67,126
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Psychology, Other
MastCIP: 4299
Median Debt
$38,374
Earnings (4yr)
$73,286
Natl Median: $61,796
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$43,307
Earnings (4yr)
$135,279
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$505k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$72,332
Earnings (4yr)
$71,608
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,104
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,317
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,695
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k

Graduate Certificates

Nutrition Sciences
Gr-CertCIP: 3019
Median Debt
$22,145
Earnings (4yr)
$67,291
Natl Median: $67,688
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Psychology, Other
Gr-CertCIP: 4299
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,208
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Gr-CertCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
Gr-CertCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,774
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$44,276
Earnings (4yr)
$179,109
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$594k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
ProfCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$129,487
Earnings (4yr)
$83,955
Natl Median: $81,641
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k

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 degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.