College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Skidmore College

Saratoga Springs, NY 2,760 Undergrads 85.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$81,890
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$34,581
After Aid
Median Earnings
$69,363
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$34,581
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$69,363
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate85.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients14.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
22.9%
SAT Avg
1,388
SAT Reading
25th: 66067575th: 730
SAT Math
25th: 64068075th: 730
ACT Composite
25th: 303175th: 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
+$588k
+$192k
+$104k
Median Cost$35k/yr
+$464k
+$67k
-$21k
Full Cost$82k/yr
+$294k
-$103k
-$191k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
32
Median Cost$35k/yr
Never
-17%
Full Cost$82k/yr
Never
-65%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year 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-31%

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-74%
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
Lifetime Value Added
-$319k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,508
Lifetime Value Added
-$394k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$20,657
Earnings (5yr)
$74,487
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,848
Lifetime Value Added
-$255k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,270
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Lifetime Value Added
-$407k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$96,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$192k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$52,273
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (5yr)
$61,804
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,622
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$26,751
Earnings (5yr)
$41,054
Lifetime Value Added
-$238k
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
BachCIP: 2615
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$360k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$23,550
Earnings (5yr)
$53,623
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (5yr)
$64,061
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$319k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$9,200
Earnings (2yr)
$32,653
Lifetime Value Added
-$292k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, 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 should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.