College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Baylor University

Waco, TX 14,785 Undergrads 80.1% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$78,816
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$44,441
After Aid
Median Earnings
$72,184
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$44,441
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$72,184
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$72,408
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate80.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)20.0
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients14.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS83.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
51.3%
SAT Avg
1,329
SAT Reading
25th: 61065075th: 700
SAT Math
25th: 59065075th: 700
ACT Composite
25th: 273075th: 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
+$624k
+$154k
+$137k
Median Cost$44k/yr
+$464k
-$6k
-$23k
Full Cost$79k/yr
+$340k
-$130k
-$146k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
30
∞
Median Cost$44k/yr
Never
-14%
Full Cost$79k/yr
Never
-52%
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-7%

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-68%

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 →

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$15,869
Earnings (4yr)
$102,011
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$216k
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Air Transportation
BachCIP: 4901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,825
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,699
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$185k
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Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,333
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$49,661
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$194k
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Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,362
Earnings (4yr)
$57,155
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,713
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$85,961
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$94k
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Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$124,434
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$386k
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Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$84,808
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$85k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,293
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,375
Earnings (4yr)
$58,915
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
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Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$63,909
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$128,411
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$416k
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Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$63,522
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
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Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$45,706
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$227k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$100,110
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$202k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$84,689
Natl Median: $89,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
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Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,367
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
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Median Debt
$16,320
Earnings (4yr)
$86,363
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
+$97k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,460
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$102,812
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$222k
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Median Debt
$18,375
Earnings (4yr)
$50,253
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,554
Natl Median: $54,945
Lifetime Value Added
-$228k
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Median Debt
$21,375
Earnings (4yr)
$125,167
Natl Median: $75,399
Lifetime Value Added
+$391k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,725
Earnings (4yr)
$68,460
Natl Median: $61,911
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,006
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
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Median Debt
$19,325
Earnings (4yr)
$46,979
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$216k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$89,102
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$118k
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Insurance
BachCIP: 5217
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,472
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$71,071
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
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Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$67,484
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
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Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$19,374
Earnings (4yr)
$63,622
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,535
Earnings (4yr)
$96,148
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$171k
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Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$78,398
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$20,663
Earnings (4yr)
$89,618
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
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Median Debt
$16,250
Earnings (4yr)
$92,990
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$147k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,612
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (4yr)
$51,727
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
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Median Debt
$10,000
Earnings (4yr)
$44,995
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$233k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (4yr)
$40,017
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$276k
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Median Debt
$16,125
Earnings (4yr)
$59,701
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
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Median Debt
$23,465
Earnings (4yr)
$53,927
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
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Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$20,000
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
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$61,578
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$65,090
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
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Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$21,587
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,043
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$224k
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Median Debt
$18,125
Earnings (4yr)
$89,510
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
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Median Debt
$19,400
Earnings (4yr)
$50,002
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k
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Religious Music and Worship
BachCIP: 3905
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,456
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,668
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$292k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,692
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
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Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$23,375
Earnings (4yr)
$58,293
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,822
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$67,066
Natl Median: $59,631
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$51,273
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$180k
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Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,476
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
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Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,434
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
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Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$109,055
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$239k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$56,250
Earnings (4yr)
$130,178
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$422k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,526
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,981
Earnings (4yr)
$65,057
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$77,582
Earnings (4yr)
$65,075
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
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Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$35,382
Earnings (4yr)
$59,087
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,523
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,627
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
MastCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,034
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,692
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,515
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$324k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Nutrition Sciences
MastCIP: 3019
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,126
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
MastCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$99,194
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,737
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Religious Music and Worship
MastCIP: 3905
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,264
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$62,721
Earnings (4yr)
$61,272
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
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Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,389
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k
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Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$61,516
Natl Median: $114,810
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,274
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$258k
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Median Debt
$33,887
Earnings (4yr)
$58,391
Natl Median: $61,300
Lifetime Value Added
-$210k
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Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,721
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$93,326
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,031
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $157,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,831
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,039
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: $126,925
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Law
DocCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$119,916
Earnings (4yr)
$121,715
Natl Median: $105,518
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
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Mathematics
DocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,070
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $87,076
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
DocCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,449
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,908
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$96,357
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$130,245
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$61,516
Natl Median: $67,164
Lifetime Value Added
-$335k
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Social Work
DocCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
DocCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
DocCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,993
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,982
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

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.