Why invest in a Colgate education?
The value is among the best in the country, according to a study released this week by PayScale, an online site that collects salary data.
The report reveals which college tuition costs will return the biggest dividends after graduation.
Colgate was ranked No. 18 on PayScale’s list of 554 schools by return on investment. Colgate alumni can expect an 11.4 percent annual return on investment, totaling $1,167,000 over 30 years, according to the study.
The 2010 College Return on Investment Report took the cost to attend a school and compared it to how much that school’s graduates earn on average.
Al Lee, director of quantitative analysis at PayScale, said that the report is meant to show that not all four-year degrees are created equal.
“We hope this report will provide parents, as well as current and prospective college students, crucial financial information about college selection,” said Lee. “The data should also help as students weigh the options of entering the job market after high school or attending a four-year university.”
Last year, PayScale ranked schools based on alumni salary potential throughout their careers. Among liberal arts schools, Colgate took the No. 1 spot, with graduates earning a mid-career median income of $122,00.