College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA 21,605 Undergrads 70.1% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$19,585
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$5,418
After Aid
Median Earnings
$63,429
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$5,418
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$63,429
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$62,756
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate70.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)22.3
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients60.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time84.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS70.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
95.3%
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
+$556k
+$86k
+$70k
Median Cost$5k/yr
+$537k
+$67k
+$50k
Full Cost$20k/yr
+$486k
+$16k
-$689

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
35
∞
Median Cost$5k/yr
39
258%
Full Cost$20k/yr
Never
-1%
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 Return98%

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-19%

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 (2yr)
$43,314
Natl Median: $44,906
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
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Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$13,612
Earnings (4yr)
$65,200
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
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Median Debt
$11,015
Earnings (4yr)
$67,731
Natl Median: $66,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$94k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,518
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
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Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,579
Natl Median: $49,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
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Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,187
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,640
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 (5yr)
$75,068
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$140k
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Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$13,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,728
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
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Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$64,133
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,522
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,874
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$12,125
Earnings (4yr)
$87,627
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$247k
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Cognitive Science
BachCIP: 3025
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,496
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,176
Earnings (4yr)
$51,788
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
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Median Debt
$16,457
Earnings (4yr)
$51,835
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
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Median Debt
$9,024
Earnings (4yr)
$62,256
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$103,896
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$371k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (4yr)
$71,490
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$123k
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Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
BachCIP: 1510
Median Debt
$12,993
Earnings (4yr)
$95,072
Natl Median: $93,843
Lifetime Value Added
+$304k
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Median Debt
$11,125
Earnings (4yr)
$53,438
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
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Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$14,500
Earnings (4yr)
$48,647
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
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Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,928
Earnings (4yr)
$38,397
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$34,320
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$185k
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Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$8,208
Earnings (4yr)
$66,749
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$108,038
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$402k
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Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$90,353
Natl Median: $74,842
Lifetime Value Added
+$268k
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Median Debt
$13,186
Earnings (4yr)
$47,223
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,096
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,734
Natl Median: $48,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
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Median Debt
$14,124
Earnings (4yr)
$67,312
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
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Median Debt
$10,912
Earnings (4yr)
$39,878
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,225
Natl Median: $70,873
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,863
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,439
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,268
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$14,451
Earnings (4yr)
$51,676
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
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Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$64,479
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
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Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (5yr)
$81,455
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$187k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,197
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
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Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,436
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,421
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$263k
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Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,395
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,664
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
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Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$88,002
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$250k
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Median Debt
$11,975
Earnings (4yr)
$51,047
Natl Median: $52,119
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,817
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
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Median Debt
$18,931
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 (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Nutrition Sciences
BachCIP: 3019
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,522
Natl Median: $60,053
Lifetime Value Added
+$139k
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Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,336
Natl Median: $50,983
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
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Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,337
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
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Physical Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,944
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (4yr)
$77,034
Natl Median: $56,567
Lifetime Value Added
+$166k
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Median Debt
$16,442
Earnings (4yr)
$62,298
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$51,526
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
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Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$16,125
Earnings (4yr)
$51,693
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
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Real Estate
BachCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,821
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$12,125
Earnings (4yr)
$111,278
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$427k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,063
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
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Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,038
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
+$112
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,407
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$14,408
Earnings (4yr)
$54,849
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
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Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,819
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
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Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$62,475
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
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Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,241
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biotechnology
MastCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,682
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$33,042
Earnings (4yr)
$111,334
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$330k
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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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$95,145
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
+$172k
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Criminology
MastCIP: 4504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$86,139
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k
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Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,523
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,215
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,332
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$97,545
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
+$210k
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History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,051
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$71,056
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
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Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
MastCIP: 0111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,814
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$90,681
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
+$150k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$85,549
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$105k
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Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,941
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$147,082
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$639k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$81,655
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,925
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$374k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$25,575
Earnings (4yr)
$80,905
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$63,005
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,853
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,610
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$97,033
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
+$205k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$76,460
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
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Graduate Certificates

Education, General
Gr-CertCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,183
Natl Median: $69,448
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
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Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$128,028
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$282k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$207,668
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$864k
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Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (4yr)
$101,929
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
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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.