College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Trinity Washington University

Washington, DC 1,415 Undergrads 45.3% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$35,061
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,233
After Aid
Median Earnings
$53,804
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$12,233
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$53,804
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate45.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients56.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time65.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS63.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
99.2%
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
+$468k
+$71k
-$16k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$424k
+$27k
-$60k
Full Cost$35k/yr
+$342k
-$55k
-$143k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
Never
-137%
Full Cost$35k/yr
Never
-113%
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-108%

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

Associate's Degrees

Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
AssocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k

Bachelor's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$30,000
Earnings (5yr)
$66,987
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$22,329
Lifetime Value Added
-$306k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$29,384
Earnings (5yr)
$55,994
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$28,500
Earnings (2yr)
$34,704
Lifetime Value Added
-$193k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$27,250
Earnings (5yr)
$97,649
Lifetime Value Added
+$282k
Research and Experimental Psychology
BachCIP: 4227
Median Debt
$37,011
Earnings (5yr)
$59,760
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$41,001
Earnings (5yr)
$99,031
Lifetime Value Added
+$409k
Communication and Media Studies
MastCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$73,997
Lifetime Value Added
+$193k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$34,167
Earnings (5yr)
$113,150
Lifetime Value Added
+$530k
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$67,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$175k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$65,942
Earnings (5yr)
$61,040
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$80,918
Lifetime Value Added
+$253k

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.