College ROI

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Ursinus College

Collegeville, PA 1,477 Undergrads 73.2% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$75,378
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$30,485
After Aid
Median Earnings
$73,721
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$30,485
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$73,721
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate73.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients19.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
87.4%
SAT Avg
1,304
SAT Reading
25th: 60064575th: 700
SAT Math
25th: 56063575th: 660
ACT Composite
25th: 283075th: 32

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
+$620k
+$224k
+$136k
Median Cost$30k/yr
+$511k
+$114k
+$26k
Full Cost$75k/yr
+$349k
-$47k
-$135k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
30
∞
Median Cost$30k/yr
51
24%
Full Cost$75k/yr
Never
-50%
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-3%

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-65%
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
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$69,216
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$57,903
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$67,995
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$77,166
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,668
Lifetime Value Added
-$241k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$23,649
Lifetime Value Added
-$360k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$43,798
Lifetime Value Added
-$178k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$27,439
Lifetime Value Added
-$325k
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
BachCIP: 2615
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$33,281
Lifetime Value Added
-$272k
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
BachCIP: 2609
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,899
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,886
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$346k

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.