MEASURING RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION: THE CASE FOR USING EARNINGS AND LOAN REPAYMENT METRICS

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Angel

Paper analyzes indicators related to earnings and student loan debt to evaluate return on investment (ROI) for postsecondary education. It compares four earnings-based options—mean/median earnings, baseline earnings thresholds, investment-to-earnings ratios, and earnings growth—arguing for investment-to-earnings and earnings growth as core ROI measures. It then proposes measuring repayment using a status-based rate, assesses repayment variation by race/ethnicity, gender, and completion status, and addresses limits of publicly available data, especially for non-completers.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time50 min

AccessFree to download

Options for Using Earnings to Measure Postsecondary Value

Mean or Median Earnings Levels

Share of Graduates Meeting a Baseline Earnings Threshold

Investment-to-Earnings Ratios

Earnings Growth

Measuring Earnings at the Program-and Institution-Level

Options for Using Loan Repayment Rates to Measure Postsecondary Value

Defining a Repayment Rate

Examining Repayment Rates by Race/Ethnicity and Gender

Examining Repayment Rates for Completers and Non-Completers

The Challenge of Using Publicly Available Data to Measure ROI

Limited Data on Non-Completers

Limited Data on Earnings Outcomes and Repayment Rates by Race/Ethnicity

Conclusion

Appendix

MEASURING RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION: THE CASE FOR USING EARNINGS AND LOAN REPAYMENT METRICS Ben Miller In his former capacity with the Center for American Progress TABLE OF CONTENTS Options for Using Earnings to Measure Postsecondary Value ........................ 2 Mean or Median Earnings Levels ................................................. 2 Share of Graduates Meeting a Baseline Earnings Threshold ........................... 2 Investment-to-Earnings Ratios ................................................... 4 Earnings Growth .............................................................. 5 Measuring Earnings at the Program-and Institution-Level ........................... 5 Options for Using Loan Repayment Rates to Measure Postsecondary Value ............. 6 Defining a Re payment Rate ..................................................... 6 Examining Repayment Rates by Race/Ethnicity and Gender ........................... 9 Examining Repayment Rates for Completers and Non-Completers ....................... 9 The Challenge of Using Publicly Available Data to Measure ROI ..................... 10 Limited Data on Non-Complete rs ................................................ 10 Limited Data on Earnings Outcomes and Repayment Rates by Race/Ethnicity ............ 10 Conclusion ................................................................ 11 Appendix .................................................................. 13 End notes .................................................................. 18 This paper is one in a foundational research series for the Postsecondary Value Commission authored in summer 2019 by scholars with diverse backgrounds and expertise. The research presented in these papers applies an equity lens to the philosophical, measurement, and policy considerations and assumptions underlying key components of postsecondary value to students and society, including investment, economic and non-economic returns, mobility, and racial and socioeconomic justice. The Postsecondary Value Commission consulted this foundational research as it developed a conceptual definition of postsecondary value, a framework for measuring how institutions and programs create value and ensure equitable outcomes, and an action agenda with recommendations for applying the definition and framework to change policies and practices. Through this breadth of scholarship, the commission was better able to define the value of postsecondary education and the role institutions can play in creating a more equitable and fair United States. Following the May 2021 release of the commission’s findings, these foundational papers were prepared for publication. The views and opinions expressed in these papers do not necessarily reflect the positions of individual members of the Postsecondary Value Commission or the organizations they represent. The Postsecondary Value Commission along with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Institute for Higher Education Policy are deeply grateful to the authors of this series. The authors’ extensive expertise and thoughtful engagement in this work provided the foundation for the commission to develop an informed, innovative, and equity-driven framework. They also thank Deborah Seymour for editing the written products and the team at GMMB for their creative design and layout. Suggested citation: Miller, B. (2021) . Measuring Return on Investment for Postsecondary Education: The Case for Using Earnings and Loan Repayment Metrics. Postsecondary Value Commission. This paper examines indicators related to earnings and student loan debt for evaluating return on investment (ROI) for postsecondary education. It first considers four different options for measuring earnings, arguing that measures of postsecondary value should include investment-to-earnings and earnings growth metrics. The paper then discusses how earnings should be me

FAQs

Which earnings metrics does the paper recommend for measuring postsecondary value and ROI?

The paper evaluates four earnings approaches, but recommends focusing on investment-to-earnings ratios and earnings growth as the most suitable measures for ROI.

Why are mean or median earnings levels considered insufficient on their own?

They can be misleading because they ignore costs, may highlight only the highest-paying programs rather than meaningful returns, and are affected by regional variation in where graduates live and work.

How does the paper propose measuring student loan repayment for ROI analysis?

It prefers a status-based repayment rate over balance-based measures, and then examines repayment differences by race/ethnicity, gender, and completion status.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Angel