When families talk about “return on investment” in college, the conversation often jumps straight to one question: Will this degree lead to a good paying job?
This question matters – after all, college is expensive, and students are investing not just money, but years of their lives. But as both the college landscape and job market continue to shift and evolve, the ROI of a college degree is no longer just about what students earn after graduation. It’s about what they gain during college to help them launch. This blog will help you better calculate if attending a specific school will provide the best ROI for your degree.
Using a Broader, More Honest Definition of College ROI
• When we zoom out, college ROI includes:
• Career momentum: skills, experience, and confidence
• Belonging: feeling connected academically and socially
• Support: access to advising, mentorship, and guidance
• Stability: financial and emotional support that allows students to persist
Upward mobility: not just first jobs, but long-term opportunity
A recent Inside Higher Ed opinion piece, ROI Starts on Day One, also references research that indicates financial aid alone isn’t enough. Students benefit most when financial support is paired with social capital, in other words relationships. Students need to connect not only with their classmates, but also with counselors, faculty, and employers who help students navigate the system.
Two ROI Conversations That Need to Be Happening at the Same Time
We have been following Jeff Selingo’s discussions about ROI that are drawn from his recent book Dream School: Finding the College That’s Right for You. When Selingo spoke at the 2025 IECA conference, his challenge to families to look beyond prestige and rankings sounded familiar to many of us in the audience. Signature College Counseling has been advising families this way for years. Selingo’s articulation aligns with our own. Your college experience needs to include skill building, access to internships and other forms of applied learning, as well as mentorship.
At the same time, in the Inside Higher Ed opinion piece, Sara Custer argues that ROI isn’t purely financial. She reflects on ROI as something that starts with stability, belonging, and support, not just post-graduation earnings.
In truth, these ideas don’t compete with each other, they complement one another.
What Families Often Miss About ROI When Choosing a College
Many families assume that if a student gets into a “good” college, outcomes will naturally follow. Research suggests otherwise.
According to a 2014 Gallup-Purdue Index study, graduates are significantly more likely to thrive in their careers when they can say yes to experiences they had during college, including:
• Completing an internship or job tied to classroom learning
• Working on long-term projects
• Being involved in extracurricular activities
• Having at least one mentor who encouraged their goals
Yet Gallup data also shows that many students never experience these things, even at selective or well-resourced institutions.
College ROI Is Built Through Experience, Not Assumed by Prestige
Selingo’s research reinforces this reality. Across majors, including the very popular areas of business and STEM, students who graduate without internships or real-world experience are far more likely to be underemployed.
What matters most is not where a student goes, but:
• Whether experiential learning is embedded into the curriculum
• How early students are encouraged to explore careers
• Whether internships and mentorship are supported or left to chance
This is why we encourage families to move beyond asking “Can my student get in?” and start asking “What will my student actually do once they’re there?”
What This New Definition of ROI Means for Building a College List
An intentional college search should evaluate more than admissions odds or headline outcomes. Families should be asking:
• How does this school help students use their time outside the classroom?
• Is career exploration built into the early years or delayed until senior year?
• Who helps students secure internships, research, or applied experiences?
• Do students feel supported and connected, not just enrolled?
These questions shift the search from “Where is this ranked?” to “Will this environment help my student build momentum?”
The SCC College Search Perspective: Support First, Strategy Always
At Signature College Counseling, we believe college should be a launchpad and not a holding pattern. That means helping families:
• Think more broadly about ROI
• Build intentional, balanced college lists
• Prioritize environments where students can grow academically, professionally, and personally
Clarity doesn’t come from guessing. It comes from aligning fit, opportunity, and support. It comes from understanding that the real return on investing in a college degree is not just a paycheck, but a student who graduates with direction, confidence, and traction.
If we redefine ROI this way, we don’t lower expectations for college, we raise them.
Looking for help with the college search and application process? We help students and families through the entire college planning journey – from search, applications and essays to interview prep, financial aid consultation and final school selection.
Contact us at info@signaturecollegecounseling.com or by phone, 845.551.6946. We work with students through Zoom, over the phone, and by email.
