College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Boise State University

Boise, ID 17,674 Undergrads 62.2% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$28,049
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$18,423
After Aid
Median Earnings
$67,358
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$18,423
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$67,358
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$60,091
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate62.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)23.7
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients27.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time79.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS76.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
87.2%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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
+$587k
+$117k
+$101k
Median Cost$18k/yr
+$521k
+$51k
+$34k
Full Cost$28k/yr
+$486k
+$16k
-$427

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
32
∞
Median Cost$18k/yr
46
52%
Full Cost$28k/yr
Never
-0%
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 Return93%

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-29%

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: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,771
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
CertCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,283
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,101
Earnings (4yr)
$55,835
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$138k
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Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$51,285
Natl Median: $60,097
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
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Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,110
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,213
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,111
Natl Median: $32,800
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,065
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,495
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$16,000
Earnings (4yr)
$61,544
Natl Median: $52,763
Lifetime Value Added
+$197k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,877
Natl Median: $53,696
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,019
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,624
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
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Median Debt
$13,038
Earnings (4yr)
$50,335
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,146
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$69,257
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
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Median Debt
$15,737
Earnings (4yr)
$89,863
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$217k
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Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$36,830
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$210k
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Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,336
Natl Median: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,140
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,084
Earnings (4yr)
$49,570
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
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Median Debt
$20,321
Earnings (4yr)
$66,283
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
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Median Debt
$16,625
Earnings (4yr)
$64,202
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$49,436
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$11,365
Earnings (4yr)
$78,901
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$133k
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Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$23,125
Earnings (4yr)
$81,405
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
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Median Debt
$18,471
Earnings (4yr)
$53,278
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
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Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$77,439
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$112,120
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$386k
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Median Debt
$19,090
Earnings (4yr)
$95,250
Natl Median: $95,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$258k
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Median Debt
$17,510
Earnings (4yr)
$50,297
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
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Median Debt
$20,859
Earnings (4yr)
$42,527
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$161k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$31,834
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$259k
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Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,817
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
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Median Debt
$21,229
Earnings (4yr)
$100,680
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$299k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,059
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$70,449
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,325
Earnings (4yr)
$53,995
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,952
Earnings (4yr)
$60,164
Natl Median: $68,245
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $61,911
Lifetime Value Added
-$262k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$16,980
Earnings (4yr)
$49,625
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,964
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
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International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,060
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$213k
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Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (4yr)
$65,040
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$99,482
Natl Median: $91,449
Lifetime Value Added
+$275k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,582
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
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Median Debt
$19,375
Earnings (4yr)
$85,354
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$183k
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Median Debt
$19,479
Earnings (4yr)
$51,708
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
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Median Debt
$16,060
Earnings (4yr)
$65,089
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$22,680
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,697
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
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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)
$64,459
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
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Median Debt
$18,789
Earnings (4yr)
$55,478
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$18,048
Earnings (4yr)
$51,184
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
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Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$16,262
Earnings (2yr)
$42,188
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
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Median Debt
$16,509
Earnings (4yr)
$91,491
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$229k
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Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,684
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
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Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,683
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
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Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$22,994
Earnings (4yr)
$55,188
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$21,609
Earnings (4yr)
$44,676
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
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Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,048
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,562
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
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Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$47,419
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
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Median Debt
$19,625
Earnings (4yr)
$47,505
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $104,114
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,231
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,228
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,861
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
PB-CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,697
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,346
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,260
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,414
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$70,500
Natl Median: $60,439
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
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Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$93,228
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
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Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,241
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,271
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$40,642
Earnings (4yr)
$107,178
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$270k
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Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,595
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$198k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,073
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$37,893
Earnings (4yr)
$74,993
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
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Median Debt
$20,374
Earnings (4yr)
$75,451
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$479k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,282
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: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,231
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
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Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,621
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
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Median Debt
$62,943
Earnings (4yr)
$128,689
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$457k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,481
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
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Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$32,155
Earnings (4yr)
$64,464
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,761
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$177k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,718
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
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Median Debt
$47,667
Earnings (4yr)
$48,561
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$256k
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Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,920
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,772
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Dispute Resolution
Gr-CertCIP: 3028
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,947
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
Gr-CertCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,448
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,166
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,888
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
Gr-CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,684
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,147
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,709
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,270
Natl Median: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
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Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,683
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,031
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,809
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,039
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,845
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $119,220
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
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.