College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of Richmond

University of Richmond, VA 3,002 Undergrads 85.5% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$77,290
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$33,417
After Aid
Median Earnings
$76,178
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$33,417
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$76,178
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate85.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients18.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time96.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS87.2%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
23.3%
SAT Avg
1,474
SAT Reading
25th: 690-75th: 750
SAT Math
25th: 720-75th: 780
ACT Composite
25th: 32-75th: 34

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
+$638k
+$242k
+$154k
Median Cost$33k/yr
+$518k
+$122k
+$34k
Full Cost$77k/yr
+$360k
-$36k
-$124k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
29
Median Cost$33k/yr
49
28%
Full Cost$77k/yr
Never
-45%
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 Return7%

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-63%
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
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$99,714
Lifetime Value Added
+$221k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$70,722
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$23,346
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$276k
Bioethics/Medical Ethics
BachCIP: 5132
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (5yr)
$63,986
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,597
Earnings (5yr)
$67,736
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$20,577
Earnings (5yr)
$97,662
Lifetime Value Added
+$206k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (5yr)
$121,774
Lifetime Value Added
+$385k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$22,750
Earnings (5yr)
$122,879
Lifetime Value Added
+$394k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$22,980
Earnings (5yr)
$55,411
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$76,301
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$43,426
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$81,521
Lifetime Value Added
+$85k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$67,169
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$60,210
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$71,914
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,809
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (5yr)
$127,183
Lifetime Value Added
+$610k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$29,088
Earnings (5yr)
$54,772
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$87,589
Lifetime Value Added
+$271k

Graduate Certificates

Educational Administration and Supervision
Gr-CertCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,763
Lifetime Value Added
+$188k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
Gr-CertCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$100,229
Earnings (5yr)
$97,641
Lifetime Value Added
+$159k

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.