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Calculator · Health & Care

Degree & Student Loan ROI Calculator

Whether a degree pays back, once tuition, lost earnings and loan interest are counted.

Read the how-to
The formula

How this number is built

total cost = tuition + lost earnings + loan interest · payback = cost ÷ salary increase
Step by step

Doing it by hand

Step 1

Use net tuition after scholarships and grants, not the sticker price.

Step 2

Count earnings you give up while studying — usually the largest hidden cost.

Step 3

Model the loan properly, since interest can add years to the payback.

Step 4

Find published salary outcomes for the exact programme, not the field in general.

Step 5

Compare the payback period against how long you plan to work in that field.

Questions

What people ask next

Do part-time programmes change the maths?

Substantially, because you keep earning. The trade is a longer study period and less time for anything else.

What about non-financial value?

Real, and not captured here. This calculator only answers the financial question.

Search intent

Searches this page answers

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Tools that follow from this one

Estimates, not advice. Every figure here is produced from the inputs you enter and the formula printed on the page. Rules differ by state, carrier, lender and contract, so use these numbers to prepare for a conversation with a qualified professional rather than to replace one. See our full disclaimer.