College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Spring Arbor University

Spring Arbor, MI 990 Undergrads 62.6% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$43,178
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$20,899
After Aid
Median Earnings
$51,732
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$20,899
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$51,732
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate62.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients28.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time88.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS73.4%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
37.3%
SAT Avg
1,072
SAT Reading
25th: 470-75th: 595
SAT Math
25th: 465-75th: 570
ACT Composite
25th: 17-75th: 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
+$451k
+$55k
-$33k
Median Cost$21k/yr
+$376k
-$20k
-$108k
Full Cost$43k/yr
+$296k
-$101k
-$188k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$21k/yr
Never
-144%
Full Cost$43k/yr
Never
-121%
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-125%

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-92%
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

Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$46,673
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$311k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$26,250
Earnings (5yr)
$65,177
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,508
Lifetime Value Added
-$345k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$27,125
Earnings (5yr)
$49,430
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$42,212
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$81,930
Lifetime Value Added
+$133k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,947
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$29,000
Earnings (2yr)
$36,848
Lifetime Value Added
-$205k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$28,360
Earnings (5yr)
$48,173
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k

Master's Degrees

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
MastCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,488
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k

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.