College ROI

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Suffolk University

Boston, MA 4,268 Undergrads 65.5% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$69,359
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$40,008
After Aid
Median Earnings
$75,087
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$40,008
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$75,087
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$75,345
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate65.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age20.2
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients33.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time97.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS82.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
82.3%
SAT Avg
1,216
SAT Reading
25th: 55060075th: 670
SAT Math
25th: 54058075th: 630
ACT Composite
25th: 242675th: 28

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

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
+$646k
+$175k
+$159k
Median Cost$40k/yr
+$502k
+$32k
+$15k
Full Cost$69k/yr
+$396k
-$74k
-$90k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
29
∞
Median Cost$40k/yr
56
11%
Full Cost$69k/yr
Never
-36%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
  • 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 Return22%

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-59%

Program ROI Analysis

These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,116
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,600
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,747
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$86,396
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$113k
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Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$67,377
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
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Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$71,855
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,398
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$26,394
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,848
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$275k
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Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,159
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
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Median Debt
$21,800
Earnings (4yr)
$43,553
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$230k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$70,886
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
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Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$38,139
Natl Median: $46,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$276k
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Median Debt
$26,750
Earnings (4yr)
$68,752
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
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Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$90,090
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,739
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$367k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$73,809
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
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Median Debt
$26,432
Earnings (4yr)
$86,406
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$113k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,441
Earnings (5yr)
$65,080
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
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Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,220
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$71,855
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$67,779
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
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Median Debt
$25,697
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Non-Professional Legal Studies
BachCIP: 2200
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$70,274
Natl Median: $61,959
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
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Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,829
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$257k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,096
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$73,484
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,117
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
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Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$66,709
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
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Median Debt
$23,409
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,452
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$61,032
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
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Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$30,896
Earnings (4yr)
$107,236
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$231k
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Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (4yr)
$125,542
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$390k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$195,072
Natl Median: $97,526
Lifetime Value Added
+$988k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$81,925
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,073
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,052
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,366
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$143,711
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
+$523k
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Median Debt
$55,805
Earnings (4yr)
$99,661
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$165k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,993
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,627
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$104,109
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$204k
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Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$85,595
Natl Median: $79,106
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
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Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$76,289
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
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Philosophy
MastCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$92,015
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
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Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,125
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$114,731
Natl Median: $114,810
Lifetime Value Added
+$296k
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Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,363
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,168
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Law
DocCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$100,516
Earnings (4yr)
$103,969
Natl Median: $105,518
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$123,199
Natl Median: $113,071
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
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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 decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.