College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Vanguard University of Southern California

Costa Mesa, CA 1,975 Undergrads 64.1% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$50,178
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$19,761
After Aid
Median Earnings
$59,541
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$19,761
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$59,541
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate64.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients43.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time91.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS66.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
64.7%
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
+$513k
+$117k
+$29k
Median Cost$20k/yr
+$442k
+$46k
-$42k
Full Cost$50k/yr
+$333k
-$64k
-$152k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
43
Median Cost$20k/yr
Never
-59%
Full Cost$50k/yr
Never
-84%
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-62%

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-78%
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

Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$63,226
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,961
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,019
Lifetime Value Added
-$281k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,138
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,233
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,515
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
BachCIP: 3907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,152
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$16,266
Earnings (5yr)
$53,747
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,325
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$18,930
Earnings (5yr)
$113,933
Lifetime Value Added
+$376k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k

Master's Degrees

Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,673
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$77,406
Lifetime Value Added
+$209k
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
MastCIP: 3907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$154,180
Lifetime Value Added
+$864k

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.