College ROI

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Samuel Merritt University

Oakland, CA 718 Undergrads 95.6% Grad Rate
School Website
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Total Cost
-
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
-
After Aid
Median Earnings
$148,182
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price-
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$148,182
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate95.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age29.6
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 Recipients18.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time83.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS96.2%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
100.0%
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)
⚠️ 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
+$1.2M
+$740k
+$722k
Median CostN/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Full CostN/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

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
24
∞
Median CostN/A
N/A
N/A
Full CostN/A
N/A
N/A
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%.
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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Bachelor's Degrees

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$148,193
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$722k

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
PB-CertCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,346
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
MastCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$175,398
Earnings (4yr)
$144,577
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$627k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$139,395
Earnings (4yr)
$155,587
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$722k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$90,854
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k

Graduate Certificates

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

Doctoral Degrees

Medicine
DocCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$244,534
Earnings (4yr)
$165,829
Natl Median: $118,504
Lifetime Value Added
+$579k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$142,137
Earnings (4yr)
$147,055
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$441k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$166,163
Earnings (4yr)
$94,813
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k

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. 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.