College ROI Calculator
Overview
Calculate the return on investment of a college degree. Compare tuition costs vs expected salary increase and lifetime earnings to evaluate if college is worth it.
Key Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Calculator ID | college-roi |
| Category | Education |
| Vertical | Education & Career |
| App route | /verticals/education/college-roi |
| API endpoint | /api/public/calculate?id=college-roi |
Inputs
| Input ID | Label | Type | Required | Default | Constraints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
currency | Currency | select | Yes | USD | - |
tuitionPerYear | Annual Tuition & Fees | currency | Yes | 25000 | min 0, max 100000, step 1000 |
yearsToComplete | Years to Complete Degree | number | Yes | 4 | min 1, max 8, step 0.5 |
roomAndBoardPerYear | Room & Board per Year | currency | Yes | 12000 | min 0, max 50000, step 1000 |
booksAndSupplies | Books & Supplies per Year | currency | Yes | 1200 | min 0, max 5000, step 100 |
scholarshipsPerYear | Scholarships & Grants per Year | currency | Yes | 5000 | min 0, max 100000, step 1000 |
workDuringSchool | Work During School | select | Yes | yes | - |
annualWorkIncome | Annual Income from Work | currency | No | 8000 | min 0, max 50000, step 1000 |
highSchoolSalary | Expected Salary with High School Diploma | currency | Yes | 35000 | min 20000, max 100000, step 5000 |
collegeSalary | Expected Salary with College Degree | currency | Yes | 60000 | min 30000, max 300000, step 5000 |
salaryGrowthRate | Annual Salary Growth Rate (%) | number | Yes | 3 | min 0, max 10, step 0.5 |
careerLength | Career Length (years) | number | Yes | 40 | min 10, max 50, step 5 |
How to Use
- Enter College Costs — Input annual tuition, room & board, books, and years to graduate. Include any scholarships/grants and part-time work income to get net cost.
- Compare Salaries — Enter expected salary with high school diploma vs college degree. Include salary growth rate and career length (typically 40 years).
- Review Financial Analysis — See lifetime ROI percentage, total investment (including opportunity cost), break-even point, and lifetime earnings comparison for both paths.
Result Surfaces
| Output | Display Type | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Computed results | result-card | - |
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FAQ
Is college financially worth it in 2026?
Depends on major and cost. Engineering/CS: 400-800% ROI. Business: 300-500%. Arts/Humanities: 100-300%. Avg college grad earns $1M more over career than high school grad. But $100k+ debt can negate benefits. In-state public university has best ROI. Consider trade schools ($60-90k with no debt).
What is the average college debt and is it worth it?
Avg 2026 grad: $35k-$40k debt. Monthly payment: $350-$400 over 10 years. Worth it if salary increase exceeds $10-15k/year. STEM/healthcare majors recover investment in 5-10 years. Low-paying majors may never break even. Rule: Don't borrow more than expected first-year salary.
Are there better alternatives to traditional 4-year college?
Yes! Community college→university (saves $40-80k). Coding bootcamps ($10-20k, 3-6 months, $70k+ starting). Trade schools (electrician, plumber: $50-80k, no debt). Online degrees (50% cheaper). Some tech companies hire without degrees. Depends on career goals.
Evidence
src/lib/calculators/registry.ts(metadata)src/lib/calculators/page-registry.ts(page/HowTo metadata)src/lib/calculators/education/college-roi.ts(calculator config)
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