College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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American University

Washington, DC 7,266 Undergrads 78.7% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$76,058
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$41,943
After Aid
Median Earnings
$79,081
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$41,943
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$79,081
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$77,370
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate78.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age19.7
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients13.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time97.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS83.4%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
62.0%
SAT Avg
1,381
SAT Reading
25th: 66069575th: 740
SAT Math
25th: 62066575th: 720
ACT Composite
25th: 293175th: 32

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$683k
+$216k
+$199k
Median Cost$42k/yr
+$532k
+$65k
+$48k
Full Cost$76k/yr
+$410k
-$57k
-$75k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
28
∞
Median Cost$42k/yr
47
32%
Full Cost$76k/yr
Never
-27%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
  • Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
  • Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
  • NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return39%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-53%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Certificates

International/Globalization Studies
CertCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,099
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$69,517
Natl Median: $45,242
Lifetime Value Added
+$252k
Median Debt
$22,673
Earnings (4yr)
$66,603
Natl Median: $55,699
Lifetime Value Added
+$224k
Philosophy
CertCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,871
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$81,004
Natl Median: $72,399
Lifetime Value Added
+$364k
Statistics
CertCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,722
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,689
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$119,020
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$352k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,036
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$67,023
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Median Debt
$19,085
Earnings (4yr)
$75,461
Natl Median: $44,889
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,701
Earnings (5yr)
$54,479
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$88,359
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$119k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,611
Earnings (4yr)
$67,863
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $104,864
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$117,293
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$339k
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$66,970
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,989
Earnings (5yr)
$46,621
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$218k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$22,191
Earnings (4yr)
$85,016
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$63,553
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,661
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Median Debt
$22,625
Earnings (4yr)
$134,332
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$467k
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,630
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$73,865
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$24,976
Earnings (4yr)
$66,635
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Literature
BachCIP: 2314
Median Debt
$26,105
Earnings (4yr)
$54,436
Natl Median: $46,173
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,612
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$76,552
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$346k
Median Debt
$26,125
Earnings (4yr)
$63,711
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Non-Professional Legal Studies
BachCIP: 2200
Median Debt
$24,375
Earnings (4yr)
$72,792
Natl Median: $61,959
Lifetime Value Added
-$127
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$73,604
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (4yr)
$62,240
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$70,831
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Median Debt
$26,442
Earnings (4yr)
$78,410
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,954
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$66,160
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$112,384
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$271k
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$49,058
Natl Median: $68,936
Lifetime Value Added
-$274k
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
MastCIP: 5010
Median Debt
$59,904
Earnings (4yr)
$65,062
Natl Median: $59,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,573
Natl Median: $64,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biotechnology
MastCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,682
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$89,433
Earnings (4yr)
$127,269
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$401k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$51,250
Earnings (4yr)
$94,424
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
+$114k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$55,964
Natl Median: $85,444
Lifetime Value Added
-$206k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$89,015
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,073
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$46,108
Earnings (4yr)
$103,169
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
+$191k
Median Debt
$43,885
Earnings (4yr)
$93,310
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$105k
Median Debt
$66,504
Earnings (4yr)
$76,808
Natl Median: $51,486
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$51,250
Earnings (4yr)
$55,550
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
-$231k
Median Debt
$51,250
Earnings (4yr)
$74,598
Natl Median: $66,523
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$68,296
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Homeland Security
MastCIP: 4303
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$96,954
Natl Median: $96,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
Median Debt
$39,375
Earnings (4yr)
$79,464
Natl Median: $69,445
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (4yr)
$97,808
Natl Median: $95,627
Lifetime Value Added
+$144k
Journalism
MastCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$55,989
Earnings (4yr)
$67,819
Natl Median: $69,034
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,855
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$65,926
Earnings (4yr)
$96,768
Natl Median: $101,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$135k
Literature
MastCIP: 2314
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,337
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$51,250
Earnings (4yr)
$127,356
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$401k
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,106
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$104,878
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
+$206k
Median Debt
$62,122
Earnings (4yr)
$89,800
Natl Median: $70,267
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
Philosophy
MastCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$42,373
Earnings (4yr)
$82,273
Natl Median: $60,272
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$98,567
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,628
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Median Debt
$55,000
Earnings (4yr)
$107,866
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$232k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$83,880
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Median Debt
$54,986
Earnings (4yr)
$98,588
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
Median Debt
$53,268
Earnings (4yr)
$97,932
Natl Median: $80,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$145k
Real Estate
MastCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $135,104
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,741
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$451k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$57,995
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$186k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$49,264
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$75,706
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$122,587
Natl Median: $114,810
Lifetime Value Added
+$339k
Median Debt
$51,250
Earnings (4yr)
$67,617
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,363
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
Gr-CertCIP: 5010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,175
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
Gr-CertCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $118,588
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,168
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $114,740
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $122,843
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Administration
Gr-CertCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,022
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Policy Analysis
Gr-CertCIP: 4405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,781
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Sciences, Other
Gr-CertCIP: 4599
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,694
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
Gr-CertCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,297
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,178
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Anthropology
DocCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,473
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,931
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,427
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
DocCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $135,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
DocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,550
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,694
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,908
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,464
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$161,696
Earnings (4yr)
$109,523
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.