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Grad School ROI Calculator

Analyze tuition, lost wages, and salary premiums to measure the true return on MBA, master’s, JD, MD, and PhD programs.

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Graduate School ROI Analysis

Use the ROI snapshot as your scoreboard.

Total Program Investment combines tuition, fees, living expenses, interest, and lost wages.

Net Lifetime Benefit and ROI show how much extra income you capture after paying yourself back.

Key checkpoints when you read the tiles:

- Compare the projected lifetime benefit to the all‑in investment. You want a wide gap, not a break-even.

- Look at the break-even year. Anything longer than 8–10 years deserves a closer look at costs or salary assumptions.

- Match the break-even year to your age. If payback happens after age 40, ensure you truly plan to stay in that career for decades.

After scanning the snapshot, move into the “Customize Your Program” controls to stress-test every assumption.

Updating tuition, scholarships, salary retention, or post-grad pay refreshes the snapshot instantly so you can see how each lever shifts ROI.

How to Improve the Payoff

Three simple tweaks can materially lift ROI:

- Lower the investment: target in-state programs, negotiate employer sponsorship, or stretch the program over part-time/online tracks so you keep 50%+ of your income.

- Raise the premium: research industry-specific comp data and plug in realistic post-grad offers instead of relying on averages from marketing brochures.

- Shorten the break-even: increase scholarships, trim living expenses, or refinance loans after graduation to reduce required cash flows.

Updating these levers keeps the analysis readable and prevents the “wall of text” feeling—the calculator will instantly reflect the impact with clean line breaks, bullet lists, and a more scannable narrative.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Grad School ROI Calculator

The Grad School ROI Calculator helps you compare the costs of different graduate programs like MBAs, JDs, MDs, and PhDs. It shows you how much money you might earn in the future compared to what you spend on school.