Sustainability Corner: College as an investment
Photo courtesy of Photo Editor, Faith Zatlukal
On Mar. 26, 2025, SUNY Geneseo was listed in a survey, conducted by Georgetown University in Washington, DC, to have a high return on investment (ROI) for one’s degree. The Geneseo Website expanded this sentiment, saying “Geneseo offers a 40-year return on investment of approximately $2.09 million, placing it on par with some of the state’s largest research universities…” After which, they continued, “The data underscores the strength of Geneseo’s academic programs and the long-term earning potential of its graduates—at a fraction of the cost of many private institutions.”
While this may be framed as a net positive for all seeking a degree, what does this statistic mean on the individual bachelor's degree level?
Through refining its ROI data tool, Georgetown University compiled data from public universities and found that “comparable returns are attainable from a larger pool of public universities [than previously thought].” By measuring returns over 10-year periods, anyone can “investigate returns across different time frames… enabling prospective students to consider their earnings potential at different points and across the full arc of their careers.” While this allows for broad observation, the data released does not distinguish between majors; instead, it is a lump sum.
This means that the average ROI— the income they receive not factoring loans —for those receiving a Bachelor of Arts (BA) is as follows: At 10 years, the median income is 200,000 dollars; after 20, it is 830,000 dollars; after 30, it is 1,460,000 dollars; and after 40, it is 2,091,000 dollars. While these might seem like grand ROIs, Georgetown University stated, “the ROI of different credentials can vary widely at different timeframes.” Therefore, because Geneseo’s BA programs have vastly different starting salaries, these numbers may not be attainable for some.
While this may seem like a given, the article distinctly specifies, stating, “Students who attend institutions that predominantly offer these credentials are presumably working and earning a salary faster than their counterparts at public four-year colleges and universities.” This assumptive nature is heavily reflected in these findings as, again, the data brought forward is not distinctly based on major, just the cumulative whole— not taking into account current job markets or other factors which could drastically alter this ROI for those entering their respective fields. We are left with a presupposed number that may instill unrealistic expectations in those coming to SUNY Geneseo to fulfill their BA program.
These assumptions are furthered in the Geneseo Website’s description, “Geneseo has earned national recognition for combining academic excellence with affordability. Forbes consistently names Geneseo one of America’s Best Value Colleges. The Princeton Review includes the College in its Colleges That Pay You Back guide, highlighting schools with strong career outcomes and financial aid packages.”
While Forbes has recognized SUNY Geneseo two times— in 2025 as the hundredth-and-fifty-sixth place university, and in 2019 at hundredth-and-fifteenth place for universities that reimburse your degree —the denotation of “consistently” misrepresents these statistics, as these are the only two public listings.
On the other hand, when featured in the Princeton Review, these findings were based on rigorous data, which “weighted more than 40 data points covering academics, costs, financial aid, debt, grad rates, and career/salary data.” This study highlighted schools with “stellar academics, affordable cost—either via a comparatively low sticker price or generous financial aid (or both!) [and] strong career prospects for graduates;” not solely what Geneseo highlights on its website.
Though peculiar, these findings show the ability of findings to become sensationalized, and how they thereby run the risk of misinforming individuals. Through these slight generalities or additions, the studies and data provided could wholly mislead those coming into this school with a major that may not have classes or professors to adequately equip them for potential experiences— likewise with exposing them to such.
It is by verbiage like “This latest research reinforces what our alumni and employers already know— that investing in a Geneseo education pays off” on the Geneseo Website that users may overlook the prospects— or lack thereof —for their major due to promises of this “pay off.”
If you would like to research your specific major and those within the fields you are probing, the best option on campus is to talk with an advisor or professor within your department. Likewise, contacting the Career Design Center on campus can aid you in various ways, one of which is reaching out to an alumni of your major.
While this article and the previous entry have not been what this section usually brings in the form of content, we hope these issues will make you think more broadly about the media you are consuming, its intended effects, and, most importantly, how it affects you on a personal level. As always, stay informed and in the loop on all topics close to your heart, as the media produced is key in forming another’s cultural understanding and, in turn, can possibly sway your perspective.