College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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The College of Wooster

Wooster, OH 1,876 Undergrads 75.9% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$73,075
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$25,766
After Aid
Median Earnings
$59,629
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$25,766
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$59,629
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate75.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients19.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.4%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
54.3%
SAT Avg
1,370
SAT Reading
25th: 64067075th: 730
SAT Math
25th: 61065575th: 720
ACT Composite
25th: 272975th: 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
+$514k
+$118k
+$30k
Median Cost$26k/yr
+$421k
+$25k
-$63k
Full Cost$73k/yr
+$251k
-$145k
-$233k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
43
∞
Median Cost$26k/yr
Never
-68%
Full Cost$73k/yr
Never
-89%
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-73%

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-85%
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

Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,148
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$26,107
Earnings (2yr)
$26,933
Lifetime Value Added
-$313k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,266
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$22,111
Earnings (5yr)
$64,741
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,041
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$26,717
Earnings (5yr)
$37,753
Lifetime Value Added
-$234k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$24,720
Lifetime Value Added
-$346k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$329k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$26,546
Earnings (5yr)
$48,091
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$36,674
Lifetime Value Added
-$224k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$23,100
Earnings (2yr)
$20,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$369k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$26,784
Earnings (5yr)
$47,531
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$41,521
Lifetime Value Added
-$202k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,433
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k

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.