Education ROI Calculator
Is the degree worth it? Opportunity cost included
📚 Learn more — how it works, FAQ & guide Click to expand
Learn more — how it works, FAQ & guide
Click to expand
Education ROI Calculator with Opportunity Cost
Most "is college worth it" calculators ignore the years of lost income. This tool counts every dollar — tuition, living, lost wages — and shows when the degree pays back, in present value.
How to use this tool
- 1
Set program cost
Tuition + living + materials.
- 2
Set income gap
Lost wages during studies.
- 3
See break-even age
When does the degree pay back?
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is opportunity cost the biggest factor?
4 years × $40K alternative income = $160K of lost wages on top of tuition. For most degrees this dwarfs the tuition itself. Treating it as zero is the #1 mistake.
Are all degrees positive ROI?
No. Engineering, CS, finance, medicine: typically yes. Liberal arts, arts, humanities: often negative or break-even past age 50. Trade school often beats both.
What about non-financial value?
Real, but separate from this calculation. Personal growth, network, signaling, life experience — calculate those qualitatively. Don't pretend they justify a -$300K NPV.
You might also like
🔒
100% Privacy. This tool runs entirely in your browser. Your data is never uploaded to any server.