College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

SUNY Old Westbury

Old Westbury, NY 3,945 Undergrads 62.1% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$19,934
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$9,900
After Aid
Median Earnings
$58,526
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$9,900
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$58,526
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate62.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients49.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time87.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS68.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
84.6%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: -59575th: -
SAT Math
25th: -57075th: -
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
+$505k
+$109k
+$21k
Median Cost$10k/yr
+$470k
+$73k
-$15k
Full Cost$20k/yr
+$434k
+$37k
-$51k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
46
Median Cost$10k/yr
Never
-41%
Full Cost$20k/yr
Never
-71%
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-24%

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-50%
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
$15,250
Earnings (5yr)
$73,645
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$18,044
Earnings (2yr)
$31,314
Lifetime Value Added
-$216k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (5yr)
$58,919
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$13,750
Earnings (5yr)
$41,918
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$15,517
Earnings (5yr)
$55,759
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$14,590
Earnings (5yr)
$49,987
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations
BachCIP: 5218
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,318
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$16,180
Earnings (5yr)
$48,350
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,060
Lifetime Value Added
-$182k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,146
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (5yr)
$52,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Social Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 4599
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$56,736
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (5yr)
$43,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$18,400
Earnings (5yr)
$68,312
Lifetime Value Added
+$71k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$17,862
Earnings (5yr)
$69,650
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k

Master's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$96,668
Lifetime Value Added
+$393k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,592
Lifetime Value Added
+$116k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$81,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$263k

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.