Free tool
Degree ROI Calculator
Is an online degree worth it — for you, with your numbers? Enter your salary and tuition below. Every calculation runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded or stored.
Enter your numbers
Your current salary, the salary you expect after the degree, and the tuition. Pick a career preset if you're not sure.
See your break-even
Instantly: months to break even, N-year net gain, and ROI — plus conservative scenarios in case the raise is smaller.
Compare schools
Stack ACLAS against WGU, SNHU and more, with or without loan interest. Copy the link to share your results.
The calculator
Run your numbers
Four inputs. Instant answers. Everything stays in your browser.
Your results appear here
Enter your current salary, your expected salary after the degree, and pick a program. The math updates instantly — nothing leaves your browser.
The short version
What the price gap means in months
Break-even at a $20,000 annual raise. Same math as the calculator above — precomputed so you don't have to.
| MBA program | Tuition | Break-even | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACLAS MBA | $89 | < 1 month | Details |
| Purdue Global MBA | ~$5,666 | 3.4 months | Details |
| Nexford MBA | ~$5,700 | 3.4 months | Details |
| WGU MBA | ~$10,010 | 6.0 months | Details |
| Capella FlexPath MBA | $10,548 | 6.3 months | Details |
| APUS MBA | ~$15,510 | 9.3 months | Details |
| SNHU MBA | $19,770 | 11.9 months | Details |
Tuition: 2026 published figures or labeled estimates — verify on each school's official site. ACLAS tuition is the total program cost, not an annual fee. Break-even = tuition ÷ ($20,000 ÷ 12).
No black boxes
How the math works
Every number on this page comes from these five formulas.
The core arithmetic
- Annual raise = expected salary − current salary
- Break-even (months) = tuition ÷ (annual raise ÷ 12)
- 5-year net gain = annual raise × 5 − tuition
- ROI multiple = (annual raise × 5) ÷ tuition
With financing on
Tuition is replaced by total cost with interest, using standard amortization: monthly payment = P × r ÷ (1 − (1 + r)^−n), where P is tuition, r is APR ÷ 12, and n is the number of months. Total cost = monthly payment × n. The same math applies to the competitor column.
Questions
ROI questions, answered
How do you calculate degree ROI?
Three numbers do all the work: your annual raise (expected salary minus current salary), the tuition, and the time horizon. Break-even in months is tuition divided by monthly raise. N-year net gain is annual raise × N minus tuition. ROI multiple is total gain divided by tuition. The full formulas are listed in “How the math works” above — no black boxes.
What is a good break-even time for a degree?
Shorter is better. Anything under 12 months is exceptional — most traditional MBAs take several years to break even, because their tuition is twenty to two hundred times higher. If your numbers show decades, the degree is probably not a financial investment at that price — which is itself a useful answer before you enroll.
Is an online MBA worth it financially?
It depends entirely on the raise it unlocks for you and what you pay for it — which is exactly what this calculator tests. An $89 MBA that unlocks even a modest raise breaks even in weeks; a $20,000 MBA needs a far bigger raise to justify itself. Run your numbers above, including the conservative scenarios.
Does this calculator guarantee my salary outcome?
No. It is an arithmetic tool, not a promise. It assumes you finish the program and achieve the salary you typed in. ACLAS does not guarantee employment, salary outcomes, or any return on investment.
Where do the competitor tuition figures come from?
From each school's published 2026 tuition — the same figures used in our comparison guides, linked next to every result. Some are totals, some are clearly labeled estimates; always verify on the school's official site before making decisions.
Where do the career salary presets come from?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release — national median annual wages. Each preset is labeled with its source, and we review the figures yearly when BLS publishes new data.
Keep exploring
Run your numbers. Then run your career.
If the math works for you, enrollment is open year-round — no terms, no entrance exams, 100% online.
Estimates only. This calculator does arithmetic on the numbers you entered — it does not predict your future. ACLAS does not guarantee salary outcomes, employment, or any return on investment. Competitor tuition figures are 2026 published totals or labeled estimates; verify on each school's official site. Career presets: BLS OEWS May 2025, U.S. national median annual wage (USD).