Top 25% of Vermont Colleges for Return on Investment
Top 25% of Vermont Colleges for Return on Investment
LYNDON PLACES HIGH FOR R.O.I.
August 1, 2013
Lyndon State College has been identified as one of the Vermont colleges and universities with the greatest lifetime “return on investment” (ROI). ROI is the ratio of money gained on an investment relative to the amount of money invested. Graduates from LSC enjoy one of the largest earnings advantages over non-degree holders over a thirty-year span. Lyndon ranks sixth in the state and first among the five schools in the Vermont State Colleges system. The survey analyzed data from a total of 29 Vermont colleges and universities.
The lists were compiled by AffordableCollegesOnline.org (ACO), a resource for college affordability and financial aid information. ACO developed the criteria for consideration as a “High ROI College.” This included being a fully accredited, public or private, four-year, degree-granting institution and using the ROI according to PayScale’s 2013 College Value Report. The rankings were published by ACO on July 18.
There was a systematic formula for building the list according to ACO founder Dan Schuessler. “We sifted through comprehensive data sources to find colleges and universities in Vermont that offer a high quality education with consistent, long-term payoffs in the workplace. ACO aims to educate potential students to be aware of their options for obtaining a degree and, importantly, for paying for one. Our goal is to keep our finger on the pulse of college-related issues, the latest research, how the government is responding, and help students analyze their options.”
LSC President Joe Bertolino said, “I’m excited that Lyndon has been ranked one of the highest ROI colleges in Vermont. College affordability and return on investment have never been more important to potential students and their parents. It’s great to see LSC ranked in the top tier.”
The colleges that provided students the biggest ROI were ranked based on several criteria including net tuition prices, a graduate’s average starting salary, and school accreditation status. ACO compiled a list of schools meeting these criteria by using respected and authoritative data sets. Tuition prices were provided by the National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System-both federal entities. The average starting salary was provided by PayScale, the premier salary data collection organization. The Carnegie Foundation provided the framework for accreditation and not-for-profit status.
The seven top schools of the 29 Vermont colleges analyzed are: Norwich University, Middlebury College, University of Vermont (UVM), Saint Michaels College, Champlain College, Lyndon State College, and Castleton State College. Lyndon and Castleton offer the lowest tuition of the seven ranked colleges.