College ROI

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SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Syracuse, NY 1,839 Undergrads 77.8% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$28,133
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$18,952
After Aid
Median Earnings
$57,774
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$18,952
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$57,774
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$55,763
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate77.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age20.9
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients26.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time94.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS79.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
63.3%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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
+$518k
+$51k
+$33k
Median Cost$19k/yr
+$450k
-$17k
-$35k
Full Cost$28k/yr
+$416k
-$50k
-$68k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
42
Median Cost$19k/yr
Never
-51%
Full Cost$28k/yr
Never
-67%
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 Return-25%

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%
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

Associate's Degrees

Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,570
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Forestry
AssocCIP: 0305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,112
Natl Median: $48,725
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
AssocCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,689
Natl Median: $45,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k

Bachelor's Degrees

Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 2699
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,681
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
BachCIP: 1405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biotechnology
BachCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,097
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Construction Trades, Other
BachCIP: 4699
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$99,249
Natl Median: $93,761
Lifetime Value Added
+$285k
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
BachCIP: 2613
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,010
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Engineering, General
BachCIP: 1401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,307
Natl Median: $89,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$94k
Engineering, Other
BachCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,989
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
BachCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,604
Natl Median: $56,185
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Forestry
BachCIP: 0305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,664
Natl Median: $58,784
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Landscape Architecture
BachCIP: 0406
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,480
Natl Median: $66,387
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Natural Resources and Conservation, Other
BachCIP: 0399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,754
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,489
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Zoology/Animal Biology
BachCIP: 2607
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,505
Natl Median: $44,055
Lifetime Value Added
-$162k

Master's Degrees

Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
MastCIP: 2613
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians
MastCIP: 1505
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,955
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Forestry
MastCIP: 0305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Landscape Architecture
MastCIP: 0406
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,306
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
MastCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
DocCIP: 2613
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,173
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

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. 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.