College ROI

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University of Puerto Rico-Carolina

Carolina, PR 2,404 Undergrads 43.3% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$19,478
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,472
After Aid
Median Earnings
$31,695
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$12,472
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$31,695
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$35,146
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate43.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age20.1
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients80.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time84.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS30.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
54.5%
SAT Avg
932
SAT Reading
25th: 41148275th: 538
SAT Math
25th: 39845875th: 519
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

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
+$292k
-$178k
-$194k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$248k
-$223k
-$239k
Full Cost$19k/yr
+$222k
-$248k
-$264k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
Never
-532%
Full Cost$19k/yr
Never
-377%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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-537%

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-163%

Program ROI Analysis

These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $38,127
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,773
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$21,492
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$324k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $28,311
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$26,214
Natl Median: $50,523
Lifetime Value Added
-$282k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$32,928
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$223k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$22,039
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
-$319k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$20,680
Natl Median: $43,283
Lifetime Value Added
-$335k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$36,742
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$10,925
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$417k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$18,739
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$348k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,805
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), 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 decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.