Methodology & Data Sources
How Ask Kinsley measures whether a college degree is worth the investment.
Data Source
All data on Ask Kinsley comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, a federal dataset that tracks outcomes for students at over 6,000 Title IV institutions across the United States.
The College Scorecard provides program-level data including median earnings after graduation, institutional costs, financial aid, completion rates, and student debt levels. We update our dataset annually when new Scorecard data is released.
The Value Score
The Value Score is a composite 0–100 metric that answers one question: “Is this degree worth the money?” It combines four weighted components:
1. Earnings-to-Cost Ratio
40%How much do graduates earn relative to what they pay per year? A higher ratio means a faster and larger return on investment.
2. Break-Even Years
25%How long until the cumulative earnings premium (salary above a high school diploma baseline of $30,000/yr) covers the total cost of the degree, including loan interest?
3. Earnings Premium
20%How much more do graduates earn compared to someone with only a high school diploma? Measured as a percentage above the $30,000 baseline.
4. Completion Rate
15%What percentage of students actually graduate? A low completion rate means a higher risk of being stuck with debt and no degree.
How We Calculate Total Cost
Unlike rankings that use sticker price, Ask Kinsley calculates what students actually pay. Our total cost figure includes:
- Net price (tuition minus grants and scholarships) multiplied by 4 years
- Estimated loan interest based on the median debt at graduation and federal student loan rates
This gives families a realistic picture of the true financial commitment, not just the advertised cost.
Salary Data Explained
Median salary figures represent earnings reported 1 year after graduation. When 1-year data is unavailable, we use 4-year post-completion earnings. “Median” means the midpoint: half of graduates earn more, half earn less. All earnings data is program-specific, not institution-wide, so a computer science degree and a history degree at the same school will show different salaries.
Coverage & Limitations
- We currently cover bachelor's degree programs only
- Some programs at smaller institutions may not have enough graduates for the Department of Education to report earnings data (privacy threshold)
- Salary data reflects national medians and does not adjust for geographic cost of living
- The Value Score does not factor in subjective measures like campus culture, class size, or research opportunities
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Ask Kinsley get its data?
All salary, cost, and completion data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, a federal dataset covering over 6,000 institutions. We update our data annually when new Scorecard releases are published.
What is the Value Score?
The Value Score is a 0-100 composite score measuring whether a degree is worth the investment. It combines four factors: earnings-to-cost ratio (40%), break-even time (25%), earnings premium over a high school diploma (20%), and completion rate (15%).
How is the Value Score calculated?
The score weights four components: (1) Earnings-to-Cost Ratio at 40% — how much graduates earn relative to annual cost; (2) Break-Even Years at 25% — how long until cumulative earnings premium covers total cost; (3) Earnings Premium at 20% — salary advantage over a high school diploma baseline of $30,000; (4) Completion Rate at 15% — likelihood of graduating and avoiding debt without a degree.
What does median salary mean on Ask Kinsley?
Median salary refers to the earnings reported by the College Scorecard for graduates 1 year after completion. When 1-year data is unavailable, we use 4-year post-completion earnings. This represents the midpoint — half of graduates earn more, half earn less.
Does Ask Kinsley include all colleges?
We include all Title IV institutions that report data to the College Scorecard and have program-level earnings data. Some smaller programs or newer schools may not have enough graduates to report reliable salary data yet.
How is total cost calculated?
Total cost includes the net price (tuition minus grants and scholarships) multiplied by 4 years, plus estimated loan interest based on the median debt at graduation. This gives a more realistic picture than sticker price alone.
What is the break-even point?
The break-even point is how many years it takes for the cumulative earnings premium (salary above the $30,000 high school diploma baseline) to cover the total cost of the degree including loan interest.
See the Data in Action
Look up any school and major to see their Value Score, salary data, and cost breakdown.