Start with established research. Then bring your own costs and circumstances into the decision.
Explore institution-level estimates across 10, 15, 20, 30, and 40 years after enrollment. The free public tool lets you search colleges and compare horizons.
The explorer is provided by Georgetown; no Degreeli subscription is required. AI-generated editorial illustration.
Georgetown’s 2025 method estimates cumulative earnings less net education costs, using a 0% discount rate. Its horizons begin at enrollment. This is not the additional income caused by attending college, and it is not a program-level or personal guarantee.
Read Georgetown’s report & methodology ↗FREOPP’s public tables compare undergraduate and graduate programs. Its approach estimates lifetime earnings gains against a no-degree alternative and offers estimates accounting for completion risk. Its figures use a different method from Georgetown’s.
Research & definitions ↗Use your net cost, time in school, and earnings assumptions to test an undiscounted cost scenario. This editable calculation is separate from the research estimates above.
Build my scenario ↗Assumes completion and constant earnings. Excludes taxes, inflation, loan interest, and discounting.
These independent resources are free to access and are not endorsements or partnerships. Their coverage, cohorts, dollar years, and assumptions differ; do not combine their figures into one ranking. Links reviewed September 12, 2026.