College ROI

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National ROI Summary

Aggregated analysis of return on investment across US institutions, grouped by credential level.

United States - National Aggregate

Institution Statistics

Financial ROI

Level
Institutions
NPV (Zero Cost)
Pos / Neg
NPV (Med Cost)
Pos / Neg
NPV (Full Cost)
Pos / Neg
Certificate2,404
35%
n=2,212
31%
n=2,069
30%
n=2,071
Associate942
72%
n=887
64%
n=859
57%
n=859
Bachelor1,897
71%
n=1,792
42%
n=1,679
21%
n=1,679
Master's185
88%
n=77
n=0
n=0
Doctoral52
98%
n=46
n=0
n=0
Total5,480
56%
n=5,014
41%
n=4,607
32%
n=4,609

Student Outcomes

Level
Institutions
Grad Earnings
>HS / ≤HS
Social ROI
Pos / Neg
Pell ROI
Pos / Neg
Certificate2,404
47%
n=1,917
33%
n=2,071
28%
n=2,071
Associate942
83%
n=891
65%
n=859
50%
n=859
Bachelor1,897
92%
n=1,776
43%
n=1,679
10%
n=1,679
Master's185
100%
n=11
n=0
n=0
Doctoral52
100%
n=4
n=0
n=0
Total5,480
72%
n=4,599
42%
n=4,609
26%
n=4,609

Student Statistics

Financial ROI

Level
Students
NPV (Zero Cost)
Pos / Neg
NPV (Med Cost)
Pos / Neg
NPV (Full Cost)
Pos / Neg
Certificate2,223,433
81%
n=2,191,343
79%
n=2,142,934
78%
n=2,144,440
Associate3,535,245
87%
n=3,486,061
83%
n=3,478,329
73%
n=3,478,329
Bachelor11,797,049
91%
n=11,748,327
70%
n=11,485,069
43%
n=11,485,069
Master's70,478
96%
n=53,875
n=0
n=0
Doctoral63,655
100%
n=61,867
n=0
n=0
Total17,689,860
89%
n=17,541,473
74%
n=17,106,332
54%
n=17,107,838

Student Outcomes

Level
Students
Grad Earnings
>HS / ≤HS
Social ROI
Pos / Neg
Pell ROI
Pos / Neg
Certificate2,223,433
80%
n=2,166,423
80%
n=2,144,440
75%
n=2,144,440
Associate3,535,245
91%
n=3,506,986
84%
n=3,478,329
64%
n=3,478,329
Bachelor11,797,049
98%
n=11,734,396
74%
n=11,485,069
21%
n=11,485,069
Master's70,478
100%
n=6,403
n=0
n=0
Doctoral63,655
100%
n=2,619
n=0
n=0
Total17,689,860
94%
n=17,416,827
77%
n=17,107,838
36%
n=17,107,838
Visualization Key

The Donut Chart shows the visual breakdown of positive vs negative results.

Green = Positive %
Red = Negative %