College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Stephens College

Columbia, MO 353 Undergrads 57.2% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$42,694
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$23,277
After Aid
Median Earnings
$43,071
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$23,277
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$43,071
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate57.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients43.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time94.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS64.7%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
91.5%
SAT Avg
1,104
SAT Reading
25th: 61057575th: 650
SAT Math
25th: 52052575th: 620
ACT Composite
25th: 162175th: 23

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
+$381k
-$16k
-$104k
Median Cost$23k/yr
+$297k
-$100k
-$188k
Full Cost$43k/yr
+$227k
-$169k
-$257k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$23k/yr
Never
-224%
Full Cost$43k/yr
Never
-168%
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-203%

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-109%
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

Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services
BachCIP: 0105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$330k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$39,639
Lifetime Value Added
-$209k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$21,052
Lifetime Value Added
-$358k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$30,808
Earnings (5yr)
$74,339
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$240k
Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations
BachCIP: 5219
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$37,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$226k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$73,812
Lifetime Value Added
+$172k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$32,078
Earnings (5yr)
$49,409
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k

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.