College ROI calculator
Enter what a degree costs after aid and what graduates earn. We compute payback years and 20-year net return the same way we do across this site — earnings above the $48,360 high-school baseline, no future-dollar discounting. It runs in your browser; nothing is typed here is stored or sent.
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Total net cost
Earnings premium / yr
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Payback
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20-year net return
The math. Total net cost = net price × years. Earnings premium = expected earnings − baseline. Payback = total net cost ÷ premium. 20-year net return = premium × 20 − total net cost. If earnings are at or below the baseline, the degree does not pay back on this metric. Full method on the methodology page; see also what counts as good ROI.