College ROI

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William & Mary

Williamsburg, VA 7,055 Undergrads 91.3% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$43,035
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$19,096
After Aid
Median Earnings
$80,445
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$19,096
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$80,445
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$73,490
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate91.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age19.8
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients12.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS83.6%

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
+$694k
+$227k
+$209k
Median Cost$19k/yr
+$625k
+$158k
+$141k
Full Cost$43k/yr
+$539k
+$72k
+$54k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
28
∞
Median Cost$19k/yr
34
205%
Full Cost$43k/yr
46
35%
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 Return159%

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-13%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Certificates

Psychology, General
CertCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$19,067
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$68,909
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$15,041
Earnings (4yr)
$49,644
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$111,366
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$376k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$18,033
Earnings (4yr)
$78,270
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$19,794
Earnings (4yr)
$127,851
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$501k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$45,696
Natl Median: $50,452
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$105,467
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$331k
Median Debt
$19,255
Earnings (4yr)
$57,616
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,022
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$225k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$63,632
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$91,065
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
+$222k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$87,170
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$192k
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$70,523
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$305k
Median Debt
$17,250
Earnings (4yr)
$52,161
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$18,312
Earnings (4yr)
$75,423
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$77,863
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$72,173
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$17,924
Earnings (4yr)
$59,226
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$69,118
Natl Median: $73,721
Lifetime Value Added
+$54k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$60,177
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$87,655
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
+$196k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$68,992
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k

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
$52,625
Earnings (4yr)
$125,353
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$426k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$64,666
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,100
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
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
-$40k
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
$42,500
Earnings (4yr)
$133,994
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$501k
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
+$33k
Median Debt
$42,900
Earnings (4yr)
$56,870
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$177k

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
$46,388
Earnings (4yr)
$110,116
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
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
$105,023
Earnings (4yr)
$115,663
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k

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.