College ROI

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Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Wake Forest, NC 585 Undergrads 44.0% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$22,632
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,090
After Aid
Median Earnings
$69,450
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$13,090
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$69,450
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate44.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients28.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time64.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS-

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
74.6%
SAT Avg
1,127
SAT Reading
25th: 540-75th: 660
SAT Math
25th: 460-75th: 590
ACT Composite
25th: 21-75th: 24

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
+$610k
+$143k
+$125k
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$562k
+$96k
+$78k
Full Cost$23k/yr
+$528k
+$61k
+$44k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
31
Median Cost$13k/yr
37
166%
Full Cost$23k/yr
45
54%
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 Return199%

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 Return8%
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

Certificates

Religion/Religious Studies
CertCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,391
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
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
Philosophy and Religious Studies, General
BachCIP: 3800
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,213
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Religion/Religious Studies
BachCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Theological and Ministerial Studies
BachCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,535
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
MastCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies
MastCIP: 3023
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,952
Natl Median: $63,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology
MastCIP: 3903
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,204
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
MastCIP: 3907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,024
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy and Religious Studies, General
MastCIP: 3800
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,322
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
MastCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Religion/Religious Studies
MastCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,572
Natl Median: $57,737
Lifetime Value Added
-$266k
Religious Education
MastCIP: 3904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,328
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Theological and Ministerial Studies
MastCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,527
Natl Median: $61,300
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k

Doctoral Degrees

Bible/Biblical Studies
DocCIP: 3902
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,812
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Religious Education
DocCIP: 3904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,129
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Theological and Ministerial Studies
DocCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$95,347
Natl Median: $71,982
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k

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.