College ROI

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Brown University

Providence, RI 7,226 Undergrads 96.4% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$87,648
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$25,184
After Aid
Median Earnings
$94,678
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$25,184
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$94,678
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$93,487
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate96.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age19.5
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients14.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS85.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
5.4%
SAT Avg
1,546
SAT Reading
25th: 74074575th: 780
SAT Math
25th: 77077075th: 800
ACT Composite
25th: 343475th: 35

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
+$802k
+$335k
+$318k
Median Cost$25k/yr
+$712k
+$245k
+$227k
Full Cost$88k/yr
+$487k
+$20k
+$3k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
26
∞
Median Cost$25k/yr
31
251%
Full Cost$88k/yr
63
1%
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 Return92%

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-38%
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
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,060
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$237k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
$10,000
Earnings (4yr)
$157,822
Natl Median: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
+$704k
Archeology
BachCIP: 4503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,748
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,914
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,808
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Behavioral Sciences
BachCIP: 3017
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,673
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$12,787
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,508
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,713
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$91,674
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$204k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,477
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Cognitive Science
BachCIP: 3025
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,496
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$10,000
Earnings (2yr)
$36,141
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$227k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$11,500
Earnings (4yr)
$214,479
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$1126k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$124,508
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$454k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$79,577
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
Engineering Physics
BachCIP: 1412
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,154
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$108,550
Natl Median: $89,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$333k
Median Debt
$12,974
Earnings (4yr)
$73,497
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$125,955
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
+$465k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Median Debt
$17,300
Earnings (4yr)
$60,985
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$286k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$13,491
Earnings (4yr)
$85,520
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
+$157k
Human Biology
BachCIP: 3027
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$69,802
Natl Median: $64,732
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$86,780
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
+$167k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,848
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$266k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,941
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,019
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$301k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,145
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Median Debt
$9,250
Earnings (5yr)
$73,645
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
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
$14,481
Earnings (4yr)
$85,388
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$156k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,062
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$11,760
Earnings (4yr)
$74,496
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$73k
Median Debt
$10,000
Earnings (4yr)
$94,962
Natl Median: $73,721
Lifetime Value Added
+$229k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,110
Earnings (4yr)
$63,415
Natl Median: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Median Debt
$10,500
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,452
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,812
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$73,905
Natl Median: $62,532
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k

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 (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,936
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Behavioral Sciences
MastCIP: 3017
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,111
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$60,771
Natl Median: $71,241
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biotechnology
MastCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$151,944
Natl Median: $107,682
Lifetime Value Added
+$645k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Cognitive Science
MastCIP: 3025
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,800
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$208,655
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$1131k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,270
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
-$378k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$95,551
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$155k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,215
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,329
Natl Median: $48,772
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,496
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: $138,309
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$68,010
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $198,417
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,520
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: $67,681
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$49,500
Earnings (4yr)
$87,924
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Median Debt
$47,500
Earnings (4yr)
$87,139
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,640
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,526
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,338
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k

Doctoral Degrees

Anthropology
DocCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,473
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,729
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Archeology
DocCIP: 4503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,119
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: $153,586
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,848
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,578
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: $66,154
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Cognitive Science
DocCIP: 3025
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $118,884
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
DocCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $178,476
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,704
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,173
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: $133,630
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,831
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,271
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,718
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,039
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,669
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
Molecular Medicine
DocCIP: 2614
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $114,346
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
Philosophy
DocCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,449
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: $93,640
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,908
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
DocCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,962
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,164
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,860
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
DocCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$146,880
Earnings (4yr)
$106,465
Natl Median: $112,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k

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.