College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Viterbo University

La Crosse, WI 1,392 Undergrads 64.2% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$44,123
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$22,633
After Aid
Median Earnings
$55,660
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$22,633
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$55,660
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate64.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients22.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time85.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS85.7%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
73.3%
SAT Avg
1,184
SAT Reading
25th: 52057075th: 670
SAT Math
25th: 52053575th: 710
ACT Composite
25th: 222375th: 27

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
+$483k
+$86k
-$2k
Median Cost$23k/yr
+$401k
+$5k
-$83k
Full Cost$44k/yr
+$324k
-$73k
-$160k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$23k/yr
Never
-102%
Full Cost$44k/yr
Never
-101%
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-91%

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-84%
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

Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,015
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$63,266
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
BachCIP: 5131
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,151
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$22,814
Earnings (2yr)
$18,401
Lifetime Value Added
-$380k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,563
Lifetime Value Added
-$250k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$54,322
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,740
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$26,983
Earnings (5yr)
$78,414
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$53,578
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,848
Lifetime Value Added
-$212k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$30,017
Earnings (5yr)
$87,534
Lifetime Value Added
+$291k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$17,532
Earnings (5yr)
$64,907
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$42,780
Earnings (5yr)
$60,318
Lifetime Value Added
+$54k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$103,078
Lifetime Value Added
+$478k

Graduate Certificates

Educational Administration and Supervision
Gr-CertCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$28,608
Earnings (5yr)
$95,395
Lifetime Value Added
+$456k

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.