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Shorter University
Rome, GA 1,028 Undergrads 42.4% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$35,726
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,646
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,008
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$16,646
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$54,008
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate42.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients46.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time95.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS69.1%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
96.5%
SAT Avg
1,115
SAT Reading
25th: 53055075th: 620
SAT Math
25th: 51052575th: 580
ACT Composite
25th: 182175th: 25
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
+$487k
+$20k
+$3k
Median Cost$17k/yr
+$427k
-$40k
-$57k
Full Cost$36k/yr
+$358k
-$109k
-$126k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
60
∞
Median Cost$17k/yr
Never
-96%
Full Cost$36k/yr
Never
-98%
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 Return-83%
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-79%
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
Associate's Degrees
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,784
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$22,424
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$321k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$33,500
Earnings (4yr)
$63,873
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$307k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,677
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
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
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Services, General
BachCIP: 4400
Median Debt
$39,668
Earnings (4yr)
$50,113
Natl Median: $48,597
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,887
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Natural Sciences
BachCIP: 3018
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,935
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
BachCIP: 3907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,915
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,272
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$75,924
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
Religion/Religious Studies
BachCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$24,704
Earnings (4yr)
$42,558
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$26,284
Earnings (4yr)
$49,864
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$40,402
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$27,407
Earnings (4yr)
$85,605
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$27,334
Earnings (4yr)
$65,803
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,093
Natl Median: $58,528
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
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.