College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of Maine at Augusta

Augusta, ME 2,759 Undergrads 29.0% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$18,813
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$11,353
After Aid
Median Earnings
$40,342
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$11,353
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$40,342
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate29.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients49.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time45.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS61.7%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
100.0%
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
+$358k
-$38k
-$126k
Median Cost$11k/yr
+$317k
-$79k
-$167k
Full Cost$19k/yr
+$290k
-$106k
-$194k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$11k/yr
Never
-409%
Full Cost$19k/yr
Never
-287%
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-390%

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-133%
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

Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$14,489
Earnings (5yr)
$36,231
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,540
Lifetime Value Added
+$163k
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 0183
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$42,092
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k

Bachelor's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$26,514
Earnings (5yr)
$47,759
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$24,014
Earnings (2yr)
$33,637
Lifetime Value Added
-$200k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$26,646
Earnings (5yr)
$76,469
Lifetime Value Added
+$127k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$27,010
Earnings (5yr)
$53,127
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$20,826
Earnings (5yr)
$49,546
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$27,704
Earnings (5yr)
$41,734
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$27,627
Earnings (5yr)
$79,383
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k

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.