Return on Education Calculator

How to Use This Calculator

1. Enter your current age (18-65).
2. Input your current annual salary.
3. Estimate your expected annual salary with a college degree (based on your field of interest).
4. Specify how many years it will take you to complete your college degree.
5. Enter your life expectancy (typically 50-100).
6. Set the annual inflation rate (typically 2-5%).
7. Click the "Calculate" button to see the results.
8. Click "Reset" to clear all inputs and start over.

Understanding the Results

The calculator provides the following key insights:

• Total Earnings Without Degree: The total income you would earn over your working life without a college degree.
• Total Earnings With Degree: The total income you would earn over your working life with a college degree.
• Cumulative Inflation: The total value of earnings adjusted for inflation in each scenario.
• Net Return: The difference in cumulative inflation-adjusted earnings between the two scenarios.
• Return Rate: The percentage return on investment for obtaining a college degree.

Important Considerations

This calculator provides a simplified financial analysis and does not account for:

• Non-financial benefits of education such as personal growth, career opportunities, and job satisfaction.
• Opportunity costs such as lost income during college years.
• Tuition costs and other educational expenses.
• Changes in career paths or income over time.
• Personal circumstances that may affect life expectancy or career trajectory.

For a comprehensive decision-making tool, consider consulting with a financial advisor and exploring additional educational resources.