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Auburn University
Auburn, AL 25,732 Undergrads 79.1% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$34,402
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$23,897
After Aid
Median Earnings
$65,337
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$23,897
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$65,337
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate79.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients12.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time93.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS81.2%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
50.5%
SAT Avg
1,318
SAT Reading
25th: 630-75th: 690
SAT Math
25th: 610-75th: 690
ACT Composite
25th: 25-75th: 31
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
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
+$558k
+$162k
+$74k
Median Cost$24k/yr
+$472k
+$76k
-$12k
Full Cost$34k/yr
+$434k
+$38k
-$50k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
35
∞
Median Cost$24k/yr
Never
-14%
Full Cost$34k/yr
Never
-41%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year 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 Return20%
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-51%
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 with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (5yr)
$79,838
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
BachCIP: 1402
Median Debt
$20,417
Earnings (5yr)
$95,997
Lifetime Value Added
+$228k
Agricultural Business and Management
BachCIP: 0101
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$62,519
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$66,404
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
Apparel and Textiles
BachCIP: 1909
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$62,650
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Architectural Engineering
BachCIP: 1404
Median Debt
$21,375
Earnings (5yr)
$99,989
Lifetime Value Added
+$258k
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (5yr)
$75,187
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k
Biological/Biosystems Engineering
BachCIP: 1445
Median Debt
$25,747
Earnings (5yr)
$75,397
Lifetime Value Added
+$73k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$78,788
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (5yr)
$76,513
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$22,604
Earnings (5yr)
$108,040
Lifetime Value Added
+$318k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (5yr)
$81,856
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$18,625
Earnings (5yr)
$62,643
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$54,812
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$104,342
Lifetime Value Added
+$290k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$98,999
Lifetime Value Added
+$250k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$25,125
Earnings (5yr)
$58,793
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$94,383
Lifetime Value Added
+$216k
Engineering, Other
BachCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$74,157
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$22,750
Earnings (5yr)
$50,686
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$83,481
Lifetime Value Added
+$134k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$38,393
Lifetime Value Added
-$222k
Forestry
BachCIP: 0305
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (5yr)
$60,170
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$70,747
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (5yr)
$47,668
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (5yr)
$53,091
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$44,084
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,907
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Industrial Engineering
BachCIP: 1435
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$96,383
Lifetime Value Added
+$231k
Interior Architecture
BachCIP: 0405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,087
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$92,899
Lifetime Value Added
+$204k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$19,213
Earnings (5yr)
$51,515
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$67,766
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,525
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$91,940
Lifetime Value Added
+$197k
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
BachCIP: 2605
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (5yr)
$61,323
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General
BachCIP: 3000
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (5yr)
$49,480
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,177
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Nutrition Sciences
BachCIP: 3019
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$58,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (5yr)
$57,885
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$63,805
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Polymer/Plastics Engineering
BachCIP: 1432
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$63,749
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,085
Earnings (5yr)
$48,338
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Public Administration
BachCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,761
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$53,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$20,449
Earnings (5yr)
$71,237
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,010
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$52,381
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (2yr)
$36,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$219k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,705
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$21,723
Earnings (5yr)
$46,730
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (5yr)
$52,004
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management
BachCIP: 0306
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (5yr)
$52,409
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$21,937
Earnings (5yr)
$96,671
Lifetime Value Added
+$367k
Agricultural Production Operations
MastCIP: 0103
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,942
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Architectural Engineering
MastCIP: 1404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$109,639
Lifetime Value Added
+$478k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$145,621
Lifetime Value Added
+$784k
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning
MastCIP: 0403
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,712
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$67,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$153k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$34,155
Earnings (5yr)
$55,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$35,474
Earnings (5yr)
$58,172
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
Industrial Engineering
MastCIP: 1435
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$70,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$175k
Management Information Systems and Services
MastCIP: 5212
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$117,240
Lifetime Value Added
+$543k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$89,669
Lifetime Value Added
+$307k
Real Estate Development
MastCIP: 0410
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$108,864
Lifetime Value Added
+$471k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$46,567
Earnings (5yr)
$113,998
Lifetime Value Added
+$515k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (5yr)
$53,559
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$28,500
Earnings (5yr)
$58,932
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$25,400
Earnings (5yr)
$63,575
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Doctoral Degrees
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
DocCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$58,390
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$86,130
Lifetime Value Added
+$109k
Psychology, General
DocCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$67,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
DocCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$78,470
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Professional Degrees
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
ProfCIP: 5120
Median Debt
$136,167
Earnings (5yr)
$139,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$493k
Veterinary Medicine
ProfCIP: 0180
Median Debt
$157,515
Earnings (5yr)
$120,989
Lifetime Value Added
+$363k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, 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 degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.