College ROI Calculator
Calculate if college pays off financially. See lifetime earnings gains versus total costs including loans, lost income, and interest.
How the College ROI Calculator works
Enter college costs, financial aid, major, and expected career earnings. See total investment, lifetime earnings difference, and years to break even.
College costs $100,000+ and 4 years of lost income. This calculator shows if your degree will generate enough extra earnings to justify the investment.
How it works
Tutorial
College is one of the biggest investments families make-often $100,000 to $300,000 including lost income from not working. The financial return varies wildly by major and school. Engineering and business degrees typically pay back quickly while some majors take 20+ years to break even.
This calculator shows the real numbers: total cost including what you could have earned working instead, extra lifetime earnings from having a degree, and how many years until you’re ahead financially.
What to Calculate
| Item | Formula |
|---|---|
| Total Cost | Tuition + Living – Aid + Lost Income |
| Extra Earnings | College Career Income – High School Career Income |
| ROI | (Extra Earnings – Cost) ÷ Cost × 100 |
Real Example: 4-Year State School
Step 1: Calculate Total College Cost
| Cost | Per Year | 4 Years |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Fees | $25,000 | $100,000 |
| Room & Board | $15,000 | $60,000 |
| Books & Supplies | $1,500 | $6,000 |
| Financial Aid | -$8,000 | -$32,000 |
| Lost Income (could have worked) | $30,000 | $120,000 |
| Total Investment | $63,500 | $254,000 |
Calculation:($25,000 + $15,000 + $1,500 – $8,000 + $30,000) × 4 = $254,000
Step 2: Calculate 20-Year Earnings Comparison
| Years | With Degree | Without Degree | Extra Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years 1-5 | $275,000 | $150,000 | $125,000 |
| Years 6-10 | $400,000 | $175,000 | $225,000 |
| Years 11-15 | $500,000 | $200,000 | $300,000 |
| Years 16-20 | $625,000 | $225,000 | $400,000 |
| 20-Year Total | $1,800,000 | $750,000 | $1,050,000 |
Step 3: Calculate ROI
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Extra Lifetime Earnings | $1,050,000 |
| Total Investment | -$254,000 |
| Net Gain | $796,000 |
| ROI | 313% |
Calculation:($1,050,000 – $254,000) ÷ $254,000 × 100 = 313%
Step 4: Calculate Break-Even Point
| Year | Cumulative Extra Earnings | Still Behind by |
|---|---|---|
| Year 5 | $125,000 | -$129,000 |
| Year 10 | $350,000 | $96,000 ahead |
Break-even:Approximately8 yearsafter graduation
What This Means
This degree pays off with 313% ROI over 20 years and breaks even 8 years after graduating. You earn an extra $1,050,000 over your career compared to stopping at high school-$796,000 profit after paying back the $254,000 investment.
However, results vary dramatically: Engineering and computer science degrees often break even in 4-5 years while some liberal arts degrees take 15-20 years. Research your specific major’s earnings before committing. Also consider that these numbers don’t include student loan interest-add 30-50% to costs if you’re borrowing everything.
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