Vanguard University of Southern California

Costa Mesa, CA 1,933 Undergrads 62.5% Grad Rate

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Total Cost

$52,665

Sticker Price

Avg Net Price

$21,241

After Aid

Median Earnings

$65,874

4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$21,241

Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5

Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$65,874

Peer Midpoint: $60,428

Graduation Rate62.5%

Peer Midpoint: 58.9%

Socio-Economic Diversity

Pell Grant Recipients43.8%

Enrollment Status

Full-Time89.4%

Economic Outcomes

Earn More than HS66.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance

62.4%

SAT Avg

SAT Reading

25th: -55575th: -

SAT Math

25th: -53575th: -

ACT Composite

25th: -2275th: -

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

+$582k

+$115k

+$98k

Median Cost$21k/yr

+$506k

+$39k

+$21k

Full Cost$53k/yr

+$393k

-$74k

-$92k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age

Return on Inv. %

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

∞

Median Cost$21k/yr

28%

Full Cost$53k/yr

Never

-48%

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 Return2%

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-61%

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

Associate's Degrees

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

AssocCIP: 1312

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $37,656

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services

BachCIP: 5203

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $76,194

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Anthropology

BachCIP: 4502

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $46,676

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Business Administration, Management and Operations

BachCIP: 5202

Median Debt

$26,000

Earnings (4yr)

$62,957

Natl Median: $68,257

Lifetime Value Added

-$2k

Communication and Media Studies

BachCIP: 0901

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$59,961

Natl Median: $56,359

Lifetime Value Added

-$35k

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

BachCIP: 5005

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$28,019

Natl Median: $39,775

Lifetime Value Added

-$287k

Education, General

BachCIP: 1301

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$60,138

Natl Median: $49,808

Lifetime Value Added

-$33k

English Language and Literature, General

BachCIP: 2301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $48,590

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Health/Medical Preparatory Programs

BachCIP: 5111

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $61,911

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

History

BachCIP: 5401

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $50,680

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Marketing

BachCIP: 5214

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$58,515

Natl Median: $69,303

Lifetime Value Added

-$46k

Mathematics

BachCIP: 2701

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $69,562

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries

BachCIP: 3907

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$47,152

Natl Median: $41,979

Lifetime Value Added

-$139k

Psychology, General

BachCIP: 4201

Median Debt

$16,266

Earnings (4yr)

$47,582

Natl Median: $50,706

Lifetime Value Added

-$128k

Radio, Television, and Digital Communication

BachCIP: 0907

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$48,325

Natl Median: $50,497

Lifetime Value Added

-$129k

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

BachCIP: 5138

Median Debt

$18,930

Earnings (4yr)

$102,239

Natl Median: $88,910

Lifetime Value Added

+$299k

Religion/Religious Studies

BachCIP: 3802

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $41,390

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Religious Music and Worship

BachCIP: 3905

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $41,456

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Sociology

BachCIP: 4511

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$54,685

Natl Median: $52,657

Lifetime Value Added

-$77k

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness

BachCIP: 3105

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$55,233

Natl Median: $54,562

Lifetime Value Added

-$73k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

BachCIP: 1312

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $47,382

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

BachCIP: 1313

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $51,389

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Master's Degrees

Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology

MastCIP: 4228

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$75,686

Natl Median: $65,184

Lifetime Value Added

-$12k

Curriculum and Instruction

MastCIP: 1303

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$77,406

Natl Median: $60,185

Lifetime Value Added

-$10k

Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries

MastCIP: 3907

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$47,260

Natl Median: $53,024

Lifetime Value Added

-$254k

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

MastCIP: 5138

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$154,180

Natl Median: $120,193

Lifetime Value Added

+$645k

Theological and Ministerial Studies

MastCIP: 3906

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $61,300

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 degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.