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Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, NY 2,694 Undergrads 84.9% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$85,270
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$32,297
After Aid
Median Earnings
$61,281
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$32,297
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$61,281Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$69,363Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate84.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age19.5
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients13.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.0%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
21.1%
SAT Avg
1,405
SAT Reading
25th: 68067575th: 750
SAT Math
25th: 66068075th: 730
ACT Composite
25th: 313175th: 33
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
+$546k
+$79k
+$62k
Median Cost$32k/yr
+$430k
-$37k
-$55k
Full Cost$85k/yr
+$239k
-$228k
-$245k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
36
∞
Median Cost$32k/yr
Never
-47%
Full Cost$85k/yr
Never
-80%
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-59%
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-82%
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
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$311k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,508
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
-$386k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$14,600
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$20,657
Earnings (4yr)
$93,229
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$191k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,848
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$246k
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$104,708
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$278k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,351
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$229k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$96,378
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$200k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$51,029
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$53,602
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1605
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,622
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
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 Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$26,751
Earnings (4yr)
$51,512
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
BachCIP: 2615
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
-$352k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
BachCIP: 2609
Median Debt
$13,500
Earnings (4yr)
$67,645
Natl Median: $62,172
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$23,550
Earnings (4yr)
$69,091
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (4yr)
$47,282
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Religion/Religious Studies
BachCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,595
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,428
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$9,200
Earnings (2yr)
$32,653
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$284k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Master's Degrees
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
MastCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
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. 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.