College ROI

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William & Mary

Williamsburg, VA 7,055 Undergrads 91.3% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$45,606
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$18,880
After Aid
Median Earnings
$76,834
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$18,880
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$76,834
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$83,488
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate91.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age19.8
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients13.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS83.4%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
34.1%
SAT Avg
1,473
SAT Reading
25th: 71072075th: 760
SAT Math
25th: 69072075th: 770
ACT Composite
25th: 323375th: 34

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
+$659k
+$189k
+$172k
Median Cost$19k/yr
+$591k
+$121k
+$104k
Full Cost$46k/yr
+$495k
+$24k
+$8k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
29
∞
Median Cost$19k/yr
36
154%
Full Cost$46k/yr
60
5%
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 Return100%

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-33%

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 →

Bachelor's Degrees

Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$15,625
Earnings (4yr)
$68,909
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
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Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$17,250
Earnings (4yr)
$49,644
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
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Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$111,366
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$379k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$18,343
Earnings (4yr)
$78,270
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$127k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$127,851
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$504k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$45,696
Natl Median: $50,452
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$20,059
Earnings (4yr)
$105,467
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$334k
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Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,616
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$74,393
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$63,632
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
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Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$91,065
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
+$224k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$14,500
Earnings (4yr)
$87,170
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$195k
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Median Debt
$15,875
Earnings (4yr)
$70,523
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$305k
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Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,161
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
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Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$75,423
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
+$105k
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Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$77,863
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
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Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$72,173
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$14,500
Earnings (4yr)
$59,226
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
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Median Debt
$16,250
Earnings (4yr)
$69,118
Natl Median: $73,721
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,177
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$87,655
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
+$198k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$13,875
Earnings (4yr)
$68,992
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
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Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,623
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,414
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,371
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$57,787
Earnings (4yr)
$125,353
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$427k
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Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,666
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
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Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,035
Earnings (4yr)
$58,100
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,981
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
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History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,855
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$46,250
Earnings (4yr)
$133,994
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$502k
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Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$80,402
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
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Median Debt
$48,519
Earnings (4yr)
$56,870
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$177k
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Doctoral Degrees

Anthropology
DocCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,473
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
DocCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,249
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,653
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
DocCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $178,476
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,173
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$52,870
Earnings (4yr)
$110,116
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
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History
DocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,550
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,153
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,794
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$111,029
Earnings (4yr)
$115,663
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$143k
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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.