College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Westmont College

Santa Barbara, CA 1,310 Undergrads 72.1% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$68,826
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$32,926
After Aid
Median Earnings
$64,778
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$32,926
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$64,778
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate72.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients18.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS78.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
79.9%
SAT Avg
1,367
SAT Reading
25th: 62265875th: 720
SAT Math
25th: 59065375th: 698
ACT Composite
25th: 302975th: 34

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
+$554k
+$157k
+$69k
Median Cost$33k/yr
+$435k
+$39k
-$49k
Full Cost$69k/yr
+$306k
-$90k
-$178k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
35
Median Cost$33k/yr
Never
-41%
Full Cost$69k/yr
Never
-72%
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-43%

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-76%
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

Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (2yr)
$22,192
Lifetime Value Added
-$382k
Business/Managerial Economics
BachCIP: 5206
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$88,820
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$47,236
Lifetime Value Added
-$180k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$25,515
Earnings (2yr)
$32,925
Lifetime Value Added
-$284k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,933
Lifetime Value Added
-$339k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$55,700
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$55,705
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k

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.