College ROI

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Brandeis University

Waltham, MA 3,618 Undergrads 88.1% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$86,448
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$35,736
After Aid
Median Earnings
$76,742
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$35,736
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$76,742
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$77,231
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate88.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age19.5
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients14.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS75.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
40.5%
SAT Avg
1,462
SAT Reading
25th: 69071075th: 750
SAT Math
25th: 70074075th: 770
ACT Composite
25th: 313375th: 34

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
+$665k
+$199k
+$181k
Median Cost$36k/yr
+$537k
+$70k
+$52k
Full Cost$86k/yr
+$354k
-$113k
-$130k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
29
∞
Median Cost$36k/yr
45
41%
Full Cost$86k/yr
Never
-42%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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 Return12%

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-62%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Bachelor's Degrees

Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,423
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,306
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$37,208
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$255k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$25,484
Earnings (4yr)
$58,384
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$108,405
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$294k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$25,484
Earnings (5yr)
$69,682
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$26,142
Earnings (4yr)
$123,460
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$408k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,676
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$25,295
Earnings (4yr)
$95,872
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$198k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,009
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$239k
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$62,291
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Median Debt
$24,226
Earnings (4yr)
$73,256
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,720
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$162k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,141
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$265k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$59,426
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$25,694
Earnings (4yr)
$66,366
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$78,746
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$26,559
Earnings (4yr)
$85,681
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,568
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$252k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,936
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$68,179
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,598
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$333k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,333
Earnings (4yr)
$74,018
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$75,580
Natl Median: $73,721
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Median Debt
$26,787
Earnings (4yr)
$67,838
Natl Median: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,895
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$185k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$65,481
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k

Master's Degrees

Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Natl Median: $68,936
Lifetime Value Added
-$281k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biotechnology
MastCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,682
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$48,240
Earnings (4yr)
$102,843
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$199k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,837
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,499
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Natl Median: $67,597
Lifetime Value Added
-$182k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $139,553
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$159,137
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$687k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $148,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$94,408
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$159k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,083
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$122,038
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
+$409k
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$28,500
Earnings (4yr)
$87,354
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Genetics
MastCIP: 2608
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,660
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$79,450
Natl Median: $97,121
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
International/Globalization Studies
MastCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,219
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,441
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: $73,229
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$40,467
Natl Median: $70,267
Lifetime Value Added
-$349k
Philosophy
MastCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,515
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$79,908
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
-$1k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,216
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$51,106
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$242k

Doctoral Degrees

Anthropology
DocCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,473
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
DocCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,249
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,683
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,578
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
DocCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $178,476
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
DocCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $135,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,831
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
DocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,550
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
DocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,592
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,153
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $119,220
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,410
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
DocCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,618
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.