ROI

ROI calculator

This calculator helps you estimate the financial impact of earning an MBA degree. It focuses on how much more you might earn over time and how long it could take to “earn back” what you invest in the program.
Total extra earnings with MBA
Use this field to estimate how much additional money you expect to earn because of your MBA over a specific period (for example, 5 or 10 years).
• Start with your expected annual salary after the MBA.
• Subtract your current (or pre‑MBA) annual salary to get the annual increase.
• Multiply that annual increase by the number of years you want to analyze.
This number represents the extra income that the MBA could generate for you over your chosen time horizon.
Total MBA cost
This field should capture the full investment you make to get your MBA, not just tuition. Consider including:
• Tuition and mandatory fees.
• Books, materials, and any program-related travel.
• Additional living expenses if they are higher while you study.
• Lost income if you stop working or move from full‑time to part‑time.
• Estimated interest you might pay on student loans.
Using a realistic total cost gives you a more accurate picture of whether a particular MBA program is financially worthwhile.
Annual salary increase after MBA
Here you enter the difference between your expected post‑MBA salary and your current (or pre‑MBA) salary.
• If you are changing careers, use a reasonable estimate based on typical post‑MBA salaries in your target role or industry.
• If you plan to stay in the same field, you can base this on promotions or raises commonly seen for MBA graduates in your function.
This number is used to estimate how quickly your higher earnings could pay back what you invest in the degree.
What the MBA ROI (%) means
The MBA ROI formula compares what you gain to what you spend:

•   A positive ROI means your projected extra earnings are greater than your total MBA cost over the period you selected.
•   A higher percentage suggests a stronger financial case for pursuing that specific MBA program.

You can change the inputs (like time horizon or cost assumptions) to see how sensitive your ROI is to different scenarios.
What the payback period (years) means
The payback period formula shows how many years of higher post‑MBA income it could take to recover your investment:

•   A shorter payback period means you recoup your costs faster.
•   Some prospective students feel more comfortable when the payback period is below a certain threshold (for example, under 5–7 years), but the “right” number depends on your risk tolerance and career goals.

How to use this tool on MBAMoola
Adults considering an MBA can use these formulas on MBAMoola to:
• Compare different programs by plugging in the tuition and typical salaries for each one.
• Test part‑time vs. full‑time options by adjusting both total cost and lost income.
• Explore best‑case and worst‑case scenarios by changing salary and cost assumptions.
The goal is not to make the decision for you but to give you a clear, numbers‑based view of how an MBA could impact your finances, alongside the non‑financial benefits such as career flexibility, network, and personal growth

Sponsored by