College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA 32,691 Undergrads 71.3% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$20,485
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$7,021
After Aid
Median Earnings
$59,664
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$7,021
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$59,664
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$59,115
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate71.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age22.7
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients56.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time84.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS69.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
93.5%
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
+$533k
+$66k
+$49k
Median Cost$7k/yr
+$508k
+$41k
+$23k
Full Cost$20k/yr
+$459k
-$8k
-$25k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
38
∞
Median Cost$7k/yr
47
92%
Full Cost$20k/yr
Never
-34%
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 Return40%

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-34%
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

Median Debt
$15,007
Earnings (4yr)
$92,329
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$275k
Median Debt
$18,875
Earnings (4yr)
$105,747
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$377k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$15,924
Earnings (4yr)
$43,192
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
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)
$53,077
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,100
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Biotechnology
BachCIP: 2612
Median Debt
$20,618
Earnings (4yr)
$73,542
Natl Median: $67,097
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
Median Debt
$14,175
Earnings (4yr)
$65,760
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k
Median Debt
$19,349
Earnings (4yr)
$55,096
Natl Median: $66,697
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,878
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$180k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$19,834
Earnings (4yr)
$97,123
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$311k
Median Debt
$13,999
Earnings (4yr)
$57,138
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Median Debt
$15,823
Earnings (4yr)
$65,188
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$91,131
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$266k
Median Debt
$18,346
Earnings (4yr)
$101,021
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$341k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$16,250
Earnings (4yr)
$101,348
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$344k
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
BachCIP: 1510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$89,804
Natl Median: $93,843
Lifetime Value Added
+$255k
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,169
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,676
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Median Debt
$15,201
Earnings (4yr)
$43,240
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Median Debt
$20,335
Earnings (4yr)
$59,940
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$72,890
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
Median Debt
$16,382
Earnings (4yr)
$104,065
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$364k
Median Debt
$16,840
Earnings (4yr)
$47,660
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,708
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
Median Debt
$16,375
Earnings (4yr)
$55,327
Natl Median: $48,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Median Debt
$18,250
Earnings (4yr)
$46,913
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$74,656
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$140k
Median Debt
$14,042
Earnings (4yr)
$42,904
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,580
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$69,323
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,250
Earnings (4yr)
$60,740
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,821
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,644
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,088
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$14,311
Earnings (4yr)
$53,351
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Median Debt
$14,255
Earnings (4yr)
$52,772
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$32,939
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$202k
Median Debt
$21,125
Earnings (4yr)
$88,999
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$249k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$13,350
Earnings (4yr)
$64,373
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$63,077
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (4yr)
$99,216
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$327k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$72,199
Natl Median: $62,582
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,351
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$40,669
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Operations Research
BachCIP: 1437
Median Debt
$15,998
Earnings (4yr)
$74,344
Natl Median: $122,531
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,566
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,527
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$12,712
Earnings (4yr)
$49,792
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Median Debt
$36,442
Earnings (4yr)
$85,789
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
+$225k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$13,744
Earnings (4yr)
$55,989
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Median Debt
$14,244
Earnings (4yr)
$49,359
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Real Estate
BachCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,174
Natl Median: $84,821
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Median Debt
$15,041
Earnings (4yr)
$116,613
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$459k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,235
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Median Debt
$15,184
Earnings (4yr)
$43,345
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$12,449
Earnings (4yr)
$52,988
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,500
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$14,865
Earnings (4yr)
$50,663
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$11,987
Earnings (4yr)
$72,148
Natl Median: $62,532
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$98,558
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$215k
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
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)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$34,195
Earnings (4yr)
$115,123
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$359k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$104,388
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$266k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$83,681
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Median Debt
$31,023
Earnings (4yr)
$60,784
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Median Debt
$67,919
Earnings (4yr)
$76,505
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$178,136
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$904k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,569
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
$32,568
Earnings (4yr)
$71,067
Natl Median: $65,348
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Median Debt
$38,464
Earnings (4yr)
$101,424
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$240k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$127,516
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$445k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$114,580
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
+$335k
Median Debt
$29,084
Earnings (4yr)
$61,735
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,537
Natl Median: $60,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,508
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
-$495k
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
Median Debt
$27,404
Earnings (4yr)
$95,444
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$187k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$26,579
Earnings (5yr)
$63,620
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,835
Natl Median: $74,856
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$129,151
Natl Median: $122,873
Lifetime Value Added
+$481k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,282
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$122,320
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$401k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,697
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Nutrition Sciences
MastCIP: 3019
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,126
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
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$319k
Median Debt
$37,074
Earnings (4yr)
$92,353
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$33,256
Earnings (4yr)
$83,400
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$51,482
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$186k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$32,228
Earnings (4yr)
$81,505
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$85,826
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
+$103k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$38,894
Earnings (4yr)
$75,660
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$108,576
Natl Median: $114,810
Lifetime Value Added
+$302k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$89,925
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
+$139k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Other Programs

Education, General
DegCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$113,493
Natl Median: $62,645
Lifetime Value Added
+$169k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$112,522
Natl Median: $90,560
Lifetime Value Added
+$162k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,802
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.