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New study reports that liberal arts institutions offer higher return on investment
A new study from Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce reports that liberal arts colleges, especially those considered selective with strong STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) majors, provide long-term value to graduates.
The study, which was covered by Inside Higher Ed, reports that 10 years after graduation, liberal arts colleges show a lower return on investment (ROI)—about 40% less—than the median ROI for other colleges.
However, 40 years after enrollment, the return is more than 25% higher than the median gain at all colleges.
The study also found that bachelor’s degrees from private colleges, on average, have higher ROI than degrees from public colleges 40 years after enrollment.
In its story, Inside Higher Ed mentions specific schools, including Lafayette.
“Engineering, for instance, is the most popular major at Lafayette College, a private liberal arts college based in Easton, Pa., where more than 40 percent of students major in STEM fields. The college has an ROI after 40 years of $1.4 million.”