College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of the Cumberlands

Williamsburg, KY 5,468 Undergrads 58.2% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$24,654
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$11,286
After Aid
Median Earnings
$45,036
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$11,286
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$45,036
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate58.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients54.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time77.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS68.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
71.4%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: -52575th: -
SAT Math
25th: -54575th: -
ACT Composite
25th: -2175th: -

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
+$397k
+$345
-$88k
Median Cost$11k/yr
+$356k
-$40k
-$128k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$308k
-$88k
-$176k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$11k/yr
Never
-316%
Full Cost$25k/yr
Never
-199%
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-248%

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-110%
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

Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (5yr)
$63,243
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$15,568
Earnings (5yr)
$60,400
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$23,375
Earnings (5yr)
$44,221
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$19,587
Earnings (5yr)
$37,610
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
Human Services, General
BachCIP: 4400
Median Debt
$17,669
Earnings (5yr)
$38,951
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$13,730
Earnings (5yr)
$42,393
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (2yr)
$28,598
Lifetime Value Added
-$245k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$16,263
Earnings (5yr)
$71,086
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$43,350
Earnings (5yr)
$51,541
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$11,852
Earnings (5yr)
$50,801
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$21,878
Earnings (5yr)
$67,247
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$19,508
Earnings (5yr)
$48,604
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$21,171
Earnings (5yr)
$55,999
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$17,564
Earnings (5yr)
$46,081
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$12,997
Earnings (5yr)
$49,630
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k

Doctoral Degrees

Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$31,421
Earnings (5yr)
$74,217
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k

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.