College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Appalachian State University

Boone, NC 19,444 Undergrads 74.5% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$24,140
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,082
After Aid
Median Earnings
$56,565
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$16,082
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$56,565
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$57,488
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate74.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)21.1
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients28.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time93.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
90.1%
SAT Avg
1,214
SAT Reading
25th: 57061075th: 660
SAT Math
25th: 55059075th: 620
ACT Composite
25th: 212575th: 27

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
+$501k
+$31k
+$15k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$443k
-$27k
-$43k
Full Cost$24k/yr
+$414k
-$56k
-$72k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
49
∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
Never
-74%
Full Cost$24k/yr
Never
-83%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
  • 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 Return-50%

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-63%

Program ROI Analysis

These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,315
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,551
Natl Median: $58,705
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
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International/Globalization Studies
CertCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,099
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,906
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,296
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,570
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$16,394
Earnings (4yr)
$85,580
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$193k
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Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$42,107
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
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Median Debt
$20,761
Earnings (4yr)
$58,516
Natl Median: $57,640
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
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Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
BachCIP: 5010
Median Debt
$17,125
Earnings (4yr)
$44,297
Natl Median: $48,240
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
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Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$53,228
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
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Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$64,932
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$23,157
Earnings (4yr)
$58,329
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,874
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,400
Earnings (4yr)
$55,307
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
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Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (4yr)
$53,125
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$97,670
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$285k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$80,257
Natl Median: $95,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
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Median Debt
$15,718
Earnings (4yr)
$55,474
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
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Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$53,543
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
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Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (4yr)
$50,403
Natl Median: $55,753
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
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Median Debt
$24,214
Earnings (4yr)
$44,986
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,746
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
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Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$67,285
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
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Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$45,954
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
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Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$69,956
Natl Median: $66,185
Lifetime Value Added
+$73k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,266
Earnings (4yr)
$75,396
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
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Median Debt
$19,793
Earnings (4yr)
$41,002
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,369
Natl Median: $70,873
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
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Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,289
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
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Median Debt
$18,125
Earnings (4yr)
$53,269
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
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Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$66,227
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$40,371
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
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Median Debt
$18,625
Earnings (4yr)
$48,546
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
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Median Debt
$20,282
Earnings (4yr)
$40,461
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
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Insurance
BachCIP: 5217
Median Debt
$18,846
Earnings (4yr)
$82,306
Natl Median: $88,472
Lifetime Value Added
+$168k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,852
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
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International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,774
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
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Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$48,243
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
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Median Debt
$24,218
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$341k
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Median Debt
$24,112
Earnings (4yr)
$55,778
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
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Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$87,041
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$204k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$83,033
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$173k
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Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$16,062
Earnings (4yr)
$69,439
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$18,373
Earnings (4yr)
$62,271
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,635
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
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Median Debt
$18,093
Earnings (4yr)
$46,207
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
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Median Debt
$17,700
Earnings (4yr)
$41,052
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
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Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$82,399
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$168k
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Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,344
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$18,752
Earnings (4yr)
$47,720
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
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Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,039
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
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Median Debt
$18,031
Earnings (4yr)
$55,671
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
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Median Debt
$18,250
Earnings (4yr)
$55,235
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
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Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$78,943
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$16,702
Earnings (4yr)
$51,012
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$47,180
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
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Median Debt
$21,211
Earnings (4yr)
$50,264
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$19,406
Earnings (4yr)
$55,594
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
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Median Debt
$18,609
Earnings (4yr)
$46,057
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
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Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$48,255
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
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Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$93,013
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$150k
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Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,936
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,942
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
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Median Debt
$20,387
Earnings (4yr)
$94,138
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,547
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
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Median Debt
$38,979
Earnings (4yr)
$63,464
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
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Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,967
Earnings (4yr)
$107,500
Natl Median: $120,083
Lifetime Value Added
+$277k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,340
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
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Median Debt
$30,063
Earnings (4yr)
$65,206
Natl Median: $62,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
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Median Debt
$16,157
Earnings (4yr)
$62,704
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,140
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$49,683
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
-$222k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$87,377
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
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History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$487k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$96,218
Natl Median: $89,051
Lifetime Value Added
+$178k
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Median Debt
$22,551
Earnings (4yr)
$59,631
Natl Median: $56,301
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
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Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,614
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
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Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$111,173
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
+$309k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,478
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
-$254k
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Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,027
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,939
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,371
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$205k
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Median Debt
$28,382
Earnings (4yr)
$55,225
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$43,798
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$281k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,822
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$230k
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Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$104,433
Natl Median: $107,086
Lifetime Value Added
+$350k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,166
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,959
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,086
Natl Median: $60,655
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
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Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$47,528
Natl Median: $69,147
Lifetime Value Added
-$205k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,406
Natl Median: $64,774
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,709
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$91,173
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
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Professional Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,254
Natl Median: $70,514
Lifetime Value Added
-$361k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,830
Natl Median: $78,026
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
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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.