College ROI

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Valparaiso University

Valparaiso, IN 2,083 Undergrads 72.5% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$58,437
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$18,578
After Aid
Median Earnings
$69,228
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$18,578
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$69,228
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$63,191
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate72.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age20.7
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients26.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS81.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
89.4%
SAT Avg
1,178
SAT Reading
25th: 540-75th: 640
SAT Math
25th: 520-75th: 640
ACT Composite
25th: 23-75th: 31

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
+$608k
+$141k
+$124k
Median Cost$19k/yr
+$541k
+$74k
+$57k
Full Cost$58k/yr
+$398k
-$69k
-$87k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
31
∞
Median Cost$19k/yr
41
85%
Full Cost$58k/yr
Never
-41%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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 Return14%

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-59%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$71,848
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,333
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,092
Natl Median: $60,997
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$61,072
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Median Debt
$25,350
Earnings (4yr)
$78,163
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$62,245
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$80,173
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$140k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,325
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$96,079
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$262k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$25,125
Earnings (4yr)
$94,111
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$247k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$63,772
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,771
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$252k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,164
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$87,944
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$200k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,439
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Median Debt
$26,613
Earnings (4yr)
$73,880
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,153
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,485
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$115,095
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
+$406k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$313k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,612
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$86,317
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$187k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$66,773
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $118,943
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,564
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$90,583
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$220k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,281
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$229k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,284
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$162k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,054
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$26,885
Earnings (4yr)
$58,104
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,413
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (4yr)
$81,278
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$149k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,598
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$272k
Median Debt
$26,900
Earnings (4yr)
$50,588
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,609
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$26,348
Earnings (4yr)
$47,644
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,437
Earnings (4yr)
$53,495
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Median Debt
$26,755
Earnings (4yr)
$54,933
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,535
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
MastCIP: 5010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,685
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$85,511
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$63,264
Earnings (5yr)
$64,575
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,757
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,348
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$29,055
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities
MastCIP: 5132
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,487
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,835
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
MastCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,125
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,443
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$66,242
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,286
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$310k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,299
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
Gr-CertCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $118,588
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
Gr-CertCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,543
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$89,751
Earnings (4yr)
$74,338
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k
Median Debt
$62,281
Earnings (4yr)
$119,400
Natl Median: $133,099
Lifetime Value Added
+$171k

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.