🎓 College ROI Calculator by Major
Compare lifetime earnings by college major, calculate ROI on your degree investment, and see payback period vs high school graduate earnings.
📚 Major & Costs
Public: $28k, Private: $60k
Avg: $12-15k
💳 Student Loans
% of total cost financed
Federal: 5.5%, Private: 7-12%
US median: $35k
Total Loan Amount
$126,000
Monthly payment: $1367 × 10 years
🚀 Excellent ROI
Lifetime ROI
1186%
30-year career projection
Net Lifetime Gain
$3794k
vs HS graduate
Payback Period11 years
Starting Salary$80k
💰 Lifetime Earnings Comparison
College Graduate (Computer Science)
30-Year Earnings$5795k
Total College Cost-$180k
Opportunity Cost-$140k
Loan Interest Paid-$38k
Net Lifetime$5475k
High School Graduate
34-Year Earnings$1681k
Starting Salary$35k/year
Annual Growth2.0%
College Cost$0
Net Lifetime$1681k
Earnings Gap: College graduates with Computer Science degrees earn $4114k more over 30 years, but after subtracting $180k tuition + $140k opportunity cost, the net gain is $3794k.
📊 Major Comparison (Starting Salaries)
💡 Maximizing Your College ROI
- ✓Choose high-earning majors - Engineering/CS (ROI 200-300%) vs Liberal Arts (50-100%)
- ✓Start at community college - Save $20-40k on first 2 years, same degree outcome
- ✓Graduate in 4 years - Each extra year costs $45k+ in tuition + lost income