College ROI

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School of Visual Arts

New York, NY 3,244 Undergrads 75.9% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$84,868
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$59,593
After Aid
Median Earnings
$48,616
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$59,593
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$48,616
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$52,320
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate75.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)20.6
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients17.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS52.2%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
92.6%
SAT Avg
1,320
SAT Reading
25th: 61067075th: 730
SAT Math
25th: 57865075th: 760
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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
+$436k
-$34k
-$51k
Median Cost$60k/yr
+$221k
-$249k
-$265k
Full Cost$85k/yr
+$130k
-$340k
-$356k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$60k/yr
Never
-124%
Full Cost$85k/yr
Never
-117%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
  • 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-122%

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-98%

Program ROI Analysis

These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$67,483
Natl Median: $58,894
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$33,288
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$389k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$41,271
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$320k
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$34,286
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$380k
Median Debt
$26,987
Earnings (4yr)
$30,125
Natl Median: $43,283
Lifetime Value Added
-$417k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,083
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,176
Natl Median: $70,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$175k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,654
Natl Median: $51,486
Lifetime Value Added
-$420k
Median Debt
$51,250
Earnings (4yr)
$46,609
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
-$351k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$157,345
Natl Median: $115,403
Lifetime Value Added
+$628k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,692
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$73,881
Earnings (4yr)
$126,448
Natl Median: $80,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$362k
Median Debt
$113,825
Earnings (4yr)
$59,511
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$227k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $111,527
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
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.