College ROI

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Vassar College

Poughkeepsie, NY 2,430 Undergrads 90.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$83,573
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$38,182
After Aid
Median Earnings
$71,366
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$38,182
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$71,366
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate90.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients21.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS69.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
17.7%
SAT Avg
1,513
SAT Reading
25th: 72073575th: 770
SAT Math
25th: 71574575th: 780
ACT Composite
25th: 333375th: 35

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
+$603k
+$207k
+$119k
Median Cost$38k/yr
+$466k
+$69k
-$19k
Full Cost$84k/yr
+$302k
-$94k
-$182k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
31
∞
Median Cost$38k/yr
Never
-14%
Full Cost$84k/yr
Never
-61%
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-23%

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-72%
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

Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,025
Lifetime Value Added
-$230k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$71,377
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (2yr)
$33,959
Lifetime Value Added
-$294k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$17,037
Earnings (5yr)
$115,240
Lifetime Value Added
+$320k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$38,959
Lifetime Value Added
-$269k
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,552
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$103,043
Lifetime Value Added
+$229k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,741
Lifetime Value Added
-$242k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$58,430
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$17,993
Earnings (5yr)
$64,947
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$18,985
Earnings (5yr)
$66,304
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,421
Lifetime Value Added
-$380k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$20,232
Earnings (5yr)
$75,748
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$77,602
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$27,476
Lifetime Value Added
-$352k
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
BachCIP: 2615
Median Debt
$16,000
Earnings (2yr)
$26,353
Lifetime Value Added
-$363k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (5yr)
$72,327
Lifetime Value Added
-$1k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,701
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$54,746
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$293k
Urban Studies/Affairs
BachCIP: 4512
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$384k

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.