College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of Northwestern-St Paul

Saint Paul, MN 1,495 Undergrads 66.3% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$48,246
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$25,140
After Aid
Median Earnings
$50,755
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$25,140
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$50,755
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate66.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients31.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time91.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.7%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
91.9%
SAT Avg
1,244
SAT Reading
25th: 488-75th: 630
SAT Math
25th: 493-75th: 663
ACT Composite
25th: 22-75th: 29

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
+$443k
+$47k
-$41k
Median Cost$25k/yr
+$353k
-$44k
-$131k
Full Cost$48k/yr
+$270k
-$127k
-$215k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$25k/yr
Never
-145%
Full Cost$48k/yr
Never
-124%
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-130%

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-95%
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
$25,038
Earnings (2yr)
$59,124
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Bible/Biblical Studies
BachCIP: 3902
Median Debt
$24,218
Earnings (5yr)
$41,448
Lifetime Value Added
-$201k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$68,797
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$20,598
Earnings (5yr)
$85,776
Lifetime Value Added
+$147k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$18,803
Earnings (2yr)
$35,060
Lifetime Value Added
-$237k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,924
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,237
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$63,536
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs
BachCIP: 5111
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$43,749
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (5yr)
$53,351
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (2yr)
$32,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$261k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,391
Lifetime Value Added
-$261k
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
BachCIP: 3907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$37,525
Lifetime Value Added
-$234k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,227
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,276
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$20,399
Earnings (5yr)
$47,683
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$74,515
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$41,671
Lifetime Value Added
-$199k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,232
Lifetime Value Added
-$161k
Theological and Ministerial Studies
BachCIP: 3906
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$44,510
Lifetime Value Added
-$175k

Master's Degrees

Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$93,804
Lifetime Value Added
+$340k
Theological and Ministerial Studies
MastCIP: 3906
Median Debt
$24,443
Earnings (5yr)
$75,899
Lifetime Value Added
+$186k

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.