AL · 26 · Education Path & ROI

Graduate School ROI Comparator

Model the full financial return of up to 3 graduate programs side-by-side. Compare net investment, salary premium, break-even timeline, NPV, and IRR — all computed locally in your browser using NCES IPEDS 2023-24 tuition data and BLS OEWS May 2023 wage data.

NCES IPEDS 2023-24 · BLS OEWS May 2023 · MBA Employment Reports 2023
📥
🔒 All inputs are processed locally in your browser. Nothing is transmitted, stored, or logged. Inputs disappear when you close the tab.
Have a Policy Mandate from the Credential ROI Suite or FAFSA SAI Simulator?
Shared Assumptions
What you earn today, before enrolling
Total horizon for NPV/IRR, including school years
Reflects cost of capital / opportunity cost of money (5% default)
Applied equally to pre- and post-degree salary trajectories
How many years you expect to work after graduating (overrides career horizon if needed)

Comparison Results

Methodology note: NPV and IRR are computed over the full career horizon using differential cash flows (graduate school scenario vs. staying at current job). Opportunity cost = foregone salary during enrollment years. Post-degree salary is the user-specified target, applied from graduation year forward. Salary premium grows at the specified annual growth rate. All figures are nominal (not inflation-adjusted) unless discount rate approximates real cost of capital. Embedded data: NCES IPEDS 2023-24 tuition · BLS OEWS May 2023 wages · school-published MBA employment reports (Class of 2023). PhD programs at research universities are typically fully funded — adjust fellowship amount accordingly.