College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Wisconsin Lutheran College

Milwaukee, WI 1,009 Undergrads 60.3% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$47,026
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$21,315
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,664
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$21,315
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$54,664
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate60.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients25.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time97.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.7%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
79.0%
SAT Avg
1,214
SAT Reading
25th: 54054075th: 660
SAT Math
25th: 52055075th: 640
ACT Composite
25th: 222575th: 28

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
+$475k
+$78k
-$10k
Median Cost$21k/yr
+$398k
+$2k
-$86k
Full Cost$47k/yr
+$306k
-$91k
-$179k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$21k/yr
Never
-113%
Full Cost$47k/yr
Never
-106%
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-99%

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-87%
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
$26,495
Earnings (5yr)
$53,254
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$23,118
Earnings (5yr)
$70,991
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,008
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$69,604
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$26,988
Earnings (5yr)
$54,940
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$81,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$41,937
Lifetime Value Added
-$161k

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.