College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Wofford College

Spartanburg, SC 1,816 Undergrads 81.2% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$72,441
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$18,732
After Aid
Median Earnings
$65,763
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$18,732
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$65,763
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate81.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age19.5
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients15.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS82.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
51.9%
SAT Avg
1,296
SAT Reading
25th: 60863375th: 680
SAT Math
25th: 59062575th: 663
ACT Composite
25th: 273075th: 31

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
+$581k
+$114k
+$97k
Median Cost$19k/yr
+$514k
+$47k
+$29k
Full Cost$72k/yr
+$321k
-$146k
-$164k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
32
Median Cost$19k/yr
48
44%
Full Cost$72k/yr
Never
-63%
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-27%

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-72%
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

Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$26,424
Earnings (4yr)
$78,576
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$128k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$61,484
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Business/Managerial Economics
BachCIP: 5206
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$78,906
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$130k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$40,485
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$86,520
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$188k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,472
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$25,408
Earnings (4yr)
$58,036
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$79,643
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$136k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
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
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies
BachCIP: 3023
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,907
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,044
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$26,825
Earnings (4yr)
$68,661
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$25,622
Earnings (4yr)
$52,046
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Religion/Religious Studies
BachCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$25,269
Earnings (4yr)
$61,200
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Sociology and Anthropology
BachCIP: 4513
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,959
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
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.