Back to Colleges
Brandeis University
Waltham, MA 3,663 Undergrads 89.2% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$82,123
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$33,885
After Aid
Median Earnings
$77,231
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$33,885
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$77,231
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate89.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients15.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS75.1%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
35.3%
SAT Avg
1,473
SAT Reading
25th: 69071075th: 750
SAT Math
25th: 70074075th: 780
ACT Composite
25th: 313375th: 34
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
+$646k
+$250k
+$162k
Median Cost$34k/yr
+$524k
+$128k
+$40k
Full Cost$82k/yr
+$351k
-$46k
-$134k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
29
∞
Median Cost$34k/yr
48
33%
Full Cost$82k/yr
Never
-45%
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 Return6%
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%
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
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$57,854
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$62,806
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$37,208
Lifetime Value Added
-$249k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$25,484
Earnings (5yr)
$66,306
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$96,146
Lifetime Value Added
+$193k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$25,484
Earnings (5yr)
$69,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$26,142
Earnings (5yr)
$132,874
Lifetime Value Added
+$466k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,873
Lifetime Value Added
-$162k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$25,295
Earnings (5yr)
$100,387
Lifetime Value Added
+$225k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,009
Lifetime Value Added
-$233k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$49,384
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
$24,226
Earnings (2yr)
$31,423
Lifetime Value Added
-$301k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,720
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,141
Lifetime Value Added
-$258k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$64,484
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
International/Global Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$25,694
Earnings (5yr)
$69,903
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,598
Lifetime Value Added
-$327k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$26,559
Earnings (5yr)
$73,764
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$246k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
BachCIP: 2615
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$57,832
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,598
Lifetime Value Added
-$327k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$23,333
Earnings (5yr)
$75,110
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,557
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Public Policy Analysis
BachCIP: 4405
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$68,486
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,895
Lifetime Value Added
-$178k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$63,066
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Master's Degrees
Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$48,240
Earnings (5yr)
$101,472
Lifetime Value Added
+$390k
Community Organization and Advocacy
MastCIP: 4402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$94,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$379k
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
MastCIP: 1110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$122,038
Lifetime Value Added
+$629k
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$28,500
Earnings (5yr)
$95,221
Lifetime Value Added
+$336k
International Business
MastCIP: 5211
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$79,450
Lifetime Value Added
+$242k
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
MastCIP: 3005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$40,467
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Public Policy Analysis
MastCIP: 4405
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$91,095
Lifetime Value Added
+$301k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$51,106
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
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.