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Wheaton College
Wheaton, IL 2,121 Undergrads 87.8% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$59,263
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$26,975
After Aid
Median Earnings
$57,675
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$26,975
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$57,675
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate87.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age19.6
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients21.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS78.0%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
87.4%
SAT Avg
1,380
SAT Reading
25th: 65066075th: 740
SAT Math
25th: 61068075th: 730
ACT Composite
25th: 283075th: 32
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
+$517k
+$50k
+$33k
Median Cost$27k/yr
+$420k
-$47k
-$65k
Full Cost$59k/yr
+$304k
-$163k
-$181k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
42
∞
Median Cost$27k/yr
Never
-66%
Full Cost$59k/yr
Never
-85%
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 Return-65%
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-81%
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
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,501
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$234k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Archeology
BachCIP: 4503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,748
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Bible/Biblical Studies
BachCIP: 3902
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$42,261
Natl Median: $44,533
Lifetime Value Added
-$201k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$76,296
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
Business/Managerial Economics
BachCIP: 5206
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$80,258
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$60,695
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$61,516
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,642
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$84,829
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
Engineering, Other
BachCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,989
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$21,101
Earnings (4yr)
$52,647
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$38,363
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$227k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1605
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
BachCIP: 5100
Median Debt
$20,356
Earnings (4yr)
$69,566
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$65,230
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$49,683
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$24,556
Earnings (4yr)
$40,329
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$210k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$23,685
Earnings (4yr)
$40,076
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$212k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$49,974
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Religious Education
BachCIP: 3904
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$42,605
Natl Median: $43,633
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$42,635
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$48,374
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,925
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$263k
Urban Studies/Affairs
BachCIP: 4512
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Master's Degrees
Archeology
MastCIP: 4503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,995
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$40,125
Earnings (4yr)
$61,371
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies
MastCIP: 3023
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,289
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,181
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$312k
Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology
MastCIP: 3903
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,204
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Religious Education
MastCIP: 3904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,771
Natl Median: $54,328
Lifetime Value Added
-$434k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language
MastCIP: 1314
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Theological and Ministerial Studies
MastCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,104
Natl Median: $61,300
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Doctoral Degrees
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
DocCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$129,614
Earnings (4yr)
$89,362
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Theological and Ministerial Studies
DocCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,982
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 decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.
Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.