College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA 38,546 Undergrads 80.0% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$17,787
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$5,115
After Aid
Median Earnings
$66,019
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$5,115
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$66,019
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$69,015
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate80.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)22.9
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients51.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time82.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS75.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
90.5%
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
+$577k
+$106k
+$90k
Median Cost$5k/yr
+$558k
+$88k
+$72k
Full Cost$18k/yr
+$513k
+$42k
+$26k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
33
∞
Median Cost$5k/yr
36
390%
Full Cost$18k/yr
49
41%
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 Return175%

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 Return4%

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 →

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,092
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
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Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,739
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
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Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
BachCIP: 5010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $48,240
Lifetime Value Added
-$214k
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Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$68,170
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,245
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$12,903
Earnings (4yr)
$71,646
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
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Median Debt
$17,655
Earnings (4yr)
$71,185
Natl Median: $66,697
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,857
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$73k
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Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$95,854
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$311k
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Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,082
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
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Median Debt
$11,250
Earnings (4yr)
$62,436
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
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Median Debt
$22,755
Earnings (4yr)
$101,408
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$353k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$87,460
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$247k
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Median Debt
$12,250
Earnings (4yr)
$57,135
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
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Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
-$302k
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Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$42,455
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,642
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,201
Earnings (4yr)
$53,518
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
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Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$14,594
Earnings (4yr)
$71,595
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
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Median Debt
$21,885
Earnings (4yr)
$92,618
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$286k
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Median Debt
$15,043
Earnings (4yr)
$51,845
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
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Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$46,384
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
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Median Debt
$13,625
Earnings (4yr)
$44,365
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,979
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,891
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,244
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$48,309
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
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Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$51,261
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
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Median Debt
$11,656
Earnings (4yr)
$76,482
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$163k
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Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$60,832
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
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Median Debt
$13,669
Earnings (4yr)
$57,408
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$29,715
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$224k
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Median Debt
$15,125
Earnings (4yr)
$83,878
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$219k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$80,055
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$190k
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Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$86,808
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$242k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$25,429
Earnings (4yr)
$39,590
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
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Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,533
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
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Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$86,504
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$239k
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Median Debt
$12,356
Earnings (4yr)
$53,966
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$12,580
Earnings (4yr)
$51,661
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,497
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
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Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$13,500
Earnings (4yr)
$48,094
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
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Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$119,353
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$489k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,581
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$13,300
Earnings (4yr)
$50,922
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$11,729
Earnings (4yr)
$51,787
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
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Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,298
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
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Median Debt
$16,375
Earnings (4yr)
$63,798
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
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Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Design and Applied Arts
PB-CertCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,857
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (4yr)
$97,802
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$213k
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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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,271
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$91,755
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
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Median Debt
$37,425
Earnings (4yr)
$125,086
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$450k
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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)
$108,826
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$309k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,598
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
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Median Debt
$27,387
Earnings (4yr)
$66,353
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$90,382
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$74,017
Natl Median: $119,397
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
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Median Debt
$35,920
Earnings (4yr)
$134,032
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
+$527k
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Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$34,229
Earnings (4yr)
$126,439
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$462k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$36,154
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
-$354k
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Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,007
Earnings (4yr)
$76,311
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
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Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$91,755
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$78,343
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$70k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,212
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
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Median Debt
$26,821
Earnings (4yr)
$113,715
Natl Median: $92,629
Lifetime Value Added
+$352k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,759
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,858
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Gerontology
MastCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$67,675
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$108,748
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$308k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$129,073
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$485k
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Median Debt
$48,718
Earnings (4yr)
$69,914
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
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Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$21,968
Earnings (4yr)
$37,850
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$337k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$91,697
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
+$159k
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Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$84,516
Natl Median: $70,515
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
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Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,617
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
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Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (4yr)
$182,816
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$947k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$24,718
Earnings (4yr)
$81,397
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
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Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,829
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
-$312k
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Median Debt
$22,750
Earnings (4yr)
$95,677
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
+$194k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,191
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$177k
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Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$117,922
Natl Median: $114,810
Lifetime Value Added
+$388k
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Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$77,214
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
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Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$91,226
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
+$155k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
$54,667
Earnings (4yr)
$141,254
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$380k
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Median Debt
$88,544
Earnings (4yr)
$181,807
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$677k
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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.