College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Widener University

Chester, PA 2,951 Undergrads 66.0% Grad Rate
School Website
Share
Total Cost
$73,168
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$26,151
After Aid
Median Earnings
$83,936
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$26,151
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$83,936
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$76,782
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate66.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)21.4
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients39.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time94.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS85.7%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
70.9%
SAT Avg
1,180
SAT Reading
25th: 55060075th: 650
SAT Math
25th: 53058075th: 640
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

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
+$712k
+$242k
+$225k
Median Cost$26k/yr
+$618k
+$148k
+$131k
Full Cost$73k/yr
+$449k
-$22k
-$38k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
27
∞
Median Cost$26k/yr
35
140%
Full Cost$73k/yr
Never
-14%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
  • 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 Return62%

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-47%

Program ROI Analysis

These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,747
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,784
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
+$252k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,077
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$26,900
Earnings (4yr)
$77,426
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$94k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$98,777
Natl Median: $68,559
Lifetime Value Added
+$257k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$73,535
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$89,794
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$189k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$62,434
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,790
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$91,145
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$199k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$80,117
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,159
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$26,541
Earnings (4yr)
$96,427
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$239k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$60,555
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$95,901
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$235k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$78,817
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$105k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,345
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,724
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,266
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,978
Earnings (4yr)
$88,358
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$178k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,765
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$61,205
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Psychology, Other
BachCIP: 4299
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,923
Natl Median: $50,748
Lifetime Value Added
+$113k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,906
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$98,272
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$253k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,654
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,871
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,136
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Education, Other
PB-CertCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,674
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$33,950
Earnings (4yr)
$103,770
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$226k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$98,251
Natl Median: $96,656
Lifetime Value Added
+$178k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$71,854
Natl Median: $125,988
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,468
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$98,402
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$179k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,427
Natl Median: $65,348
Lifetime Value Added
-$196k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,673
Natl Median: $62,705
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Gerontology
MastCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$40,453
Earnings (5yr)
$106,736
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$234k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,856
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$100,397
Natl Median: $101,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$197k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$77,806
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$47,904
Earnings (4yr)
$124,483
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$406k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$79,500
Earnings (4yr)
$67,786
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,299
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
$154,860
Earnings (4yr)
$96,854
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$95,230
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,436
Natl Median: $81,271
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities
DocCIP: 5132
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,610
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,066
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
DocCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,962
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$127,253
Earnings (4yr)
$87,889
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Social Work
DocCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,168
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$108,931
Earnings (4yr)
$83,799
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Try this program with your own numbers →

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. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. 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.