College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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St Olaf College

Northfield, MN 3,049 Undergrads 85.3% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$69,200
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$22,752
After Aid
Median Earnings
$65,543
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$22,752
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$65,543
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate85.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients20.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
52.1%
SAT Avg
1,373
SAT Reading
25th: 64067075th: 740
SAT Math
25th: 62066575th: 730
ACT Composite
25th: 283175th: 32

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
+$560k
+$163k
+$75k
Median Cost$23k/yr
+$478k
+$81k
-$7k
Full Cost$69k/yr
+$311k
-$86k
-$174k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
34
∞
Median Cost$23k/yr
Never
-8%
Full Cost$69k/yr
Never
-70%
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-39%

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-75%
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

Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$44,159
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$66,856
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$24,988
Earnings (5yr)
$65,522
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$23,125
Earnings (5yr)
$105,613
Lifetime Value Added
+$304k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,796
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$26,671
Earnings (5yr)
$81,483
Lifetime Value Added
+$123k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$25,715
Earnings (5yr)
$50,310
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$43,251
Lifetime Value Added
-$177k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$56,481
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$25,812
Earnings (5yr)
$47,745
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$85,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (5yr)
$51,102
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$23,635
Earnings (2yr)
$26,896
Lifetime Value Added
-$302k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (2yr)
$35,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$225k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$23,762
Earnings (2yr)
$39,009
Lifetime Value Added
-$193k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$65,865
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,862
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$81,743
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$24,830
Earnings (2yr)
$22,999
Lifetime Value Added
-$338k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$39,729
Lifetime Value Added
-$186k
Sociology and Anthropology
BachCIP: 4513
Median Debt
$24,644
Earnings (5yr)
$53,357
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$57,128
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k

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.