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Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY 8,899 Undergrads 92.3% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$86,042
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$20,148
After Aid
Median Earnings
$102,491
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$20,148
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$102,491
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate92.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients22.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time93.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS85.7%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
4.2%
SAT Avg
1,547
SAT Reading
25th: 73074575th: 770
SAT Math
25th: 76077575th: 800
ACT Composite
25th: 343575th: 35
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
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
+$832k
+$435k
+$347k
Median Cost$20k/yr
+$759k
+$363k
+$275k
Full Cost$86k/yr
+$522k
+$126k
+$38k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
26
∞
Median Cost$20k/yr
29
379%
Full Cost$86k/yr
53
12%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year 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 Return113%
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-32%
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 with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$32,250
Earnings (5yr)
$68,212
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$84,653
Lifetime Value Added
+$195k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$21,636
Earnings (5yr)
$78,037
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$69,310
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
BachCIP: 1405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,810
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$120,085
Lifetime Value Added
+$421k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$96,195
Lifetime Value Added
+$243k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$19,594
Earnings (5yr)
$204,511
Lifetime Value Added
+$1042k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$134,398
Lifetime Value Added
+$526k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$112,032
Lifetime Value Added
+$361k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$74,155
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (2yr)
$46,087
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$55,731
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$21,065
Earnings (2yr)
$33,138
Lifetime Value Added
-$236k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$66,087
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$91,784
Lifetime Value Added
+$210k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$10,057
Earnings (5yr)
$103,801
Lifetime Value Added
+$300k
Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1611
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$96,927
Lifetime Value Added
+$248k
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
BachCIP: 2615
Median Debt
$24,812
Earnings (5yr)
$77,489
Lifetime Value Added
+$103k
Operations Research
BachCIP: 1437
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$199,865
Lifetime Value Added
+$1008k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$20,937
Earnings (5yr)
$33,503
Lifetime Value Added
-$250k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$98,687
Lifetime Value Added
+$261k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$111,133
Lifetime Value Added
+$354k
Research and Experimental Psychology
BachCIP: 4227
Median Debt
$19,347
Earnings (5yr)
$80,055
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,649
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (5yr)
$78,873
Lifetime Value Added
+$113k
Social Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 4599
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$76,126
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$93,017
Lifetime Value Added
+$219k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$61,516
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Sustainability Studies
BachCIP: 3033
Median Debt
$18,070
Earnings (5yr)
$85,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$164k
Visual and Performing Arts, Other
BachCIP: 5099
Median Debt
$26,985
Earnings (5yr)
$77,285
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
PB-CertCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$27,250
Earnings (5yr)
$72,314
Lifetime Value Added
+$243k
Master's Degrees
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences
MastCIP: 5105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$224,749
Lifetime Value Added
+$1453k
Architecture and Related Services, Other
MastCIP: 0499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$74,696
Lifetime Value Added
+$185k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$84,800
Lifetime Value Added
+$272k
Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$50,000
Earnings (2yr)
$44,170
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology
MastCIP: 2611
Median Debt
$57,410
Earnings (5yr)
$187,372
Lifetime Value Added
+$1144k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
MastCIP: 1405
Median Debt
$79,500
Earnings (2yr)
$89,305
Lifetime Value Added
+$357k
Biotechnology
MastCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$60,839
Lifetime Value Added
+$97k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$65,229
Earnings (5yr)
$254,234
Lifetime Value Added
+$1686k
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning
MastCIP: 0403
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (5yr)
$83,603
Lifetime Value Added
+$262k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$32,685
Earnings (5yr)
$98,704
Lifetime Value Added
+$391k
Communication and Media Studies
MastCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$73,250
Earnings (5yr)
$147,928
Lifetime Value Added
+$810k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$53,545
Earnings (5yr)
$143,645
Lifetime Value Added
+$774k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$256,430
Lifetime Value Added
+$1703k
Construction Management
MastCIP: 5220
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (5yr)
$171,543
Lifetime Value Added
+$1010k
Dispute Resolution
MastCIP: 3028
Median Debt
$106,851
Earnings (5yr)
$85,283
Lifetime Value Added
+$276k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
MastCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$131,963
Earnings (5yr)
$36,696
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
MastCIP: 2613
Median Debt
$74,333
Earnings (5yr)
$102,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$425k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
MastCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$156,758
Lifetime Value Added
+$885k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
MastCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$163,605
Earnings (5yr)
$30,077
Lifetime Value Added
-$230k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$66,000
Earnings (5yr)
$161,644
Lifetime Value Added
+$927k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$92,058
Earnings (5yr)
$136,061
Lifetime Value Added
+$710k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$66,561
Earnings (5yr)
$66,380
Lifetime Value Added
+$113k
International Relations and National Security Studies
MastCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$80,500
Earnings (5yr)
$103,308
Lifetime Value Added
+$431k
Journalism
MastCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$69,000
Earnings (5yr)
$76,810
Lifetime Value Added
+$203k
Management Information Systems and Services
MastCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$43,335
Earnings (5yr)
$169,317
Lifetime Value Added
+$991k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
MastCIP: 5213
Median Debt
$61,130
Earnings (5yr)
$122,110
Lifetime Value Added
+$591k
Mechanical Engineering
MastCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$117,275
Lifetime Value Added
+$550k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
MastCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$62,424
Earnings (5yr)
$89,414
Lifetime Value Added
+$311k
Nutrition Sciences
MastCIP: 3019
Median Debt
$64,900
Earnings (5yr)
$80,136
Lifetime Value Added
+$232k
Operations Research
MastCIP: 1437
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$255,643
Lifetime Value Added
+$1697k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$71,000
Earnings (5yr)
$112,361
Lifetime Value Added
+$508k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$72,167
Earnings (5yr)
$101,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$419k
Real Estate Development
MastCIP: 0410
Median Debt
$94,551
Earnings (5yr)
$154,190
Lifetime Value Added
+$863k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$116,593
Earnings (5yr)
$139,144
Lifetime Value Added
+$736k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$95,341
Earnings (5yr)
$87,948
Lifetime Value Added
+$299k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
MastCIP: 2313
Median Debt
$88,235
Earnings (5yr)
$50,602
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Social Sciences, Other
MastCIP: 4599
Median Debt
$73,259
Earnings (5yr)
$85,657
Lifetime Value Added
+$279k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$82,150
Earnings (5yr)
$76,461
Lifetime Value Added
+$200k
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
$78,000
Earnings (5yr)
$165,479
Lifetime Value Added
+$959k
Sustainability Studies
MastCIP: 3033
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (5yr)
$107,142
Lifetime Value Added
+$464k
Visual and Performing Arts, Other
MastCIP: 5099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,964
Lifetime Value Added
-$298k
Graduate Certificates
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences
Gr-CertCIP: 5105
Median Debt
$320,742
Earnings (5yr)
$118,133
Lifetime Value Added
+$669k
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology
Gr-CertCIP: 2611
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$120,640
Lifetime Value Added
+$692k
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
Gr-CertCIP: 2613
Median Debt
$87,000
Earnings (5yr)
$93,156
Lifetime Value Added
+$437k
Public Health
Gr-CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$66,000
Earnings (5yr)
$95,295
Lifetime Value Added
+$457k
Doctoral Degrees
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$175,663
Earnings (5yr)
$155,932
Lifetime Value Added
+$628k
Professional Degrees
Dentistry
ProfCIP: 5104
Median Debt
$324,057
Earnings (5yr)
$147,168
Lifetime Value Added
+$565k
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$198,924
Earnings (5yr)
$332,787
Lifetime Value Added
+$1829k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$63,865
Earnings (5yr)
$141,861
Lifetime Value Added
+$526k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
ProfCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$152,583
Earnings (5yr)
$92,577
Lifetime Value Added
+$169k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, 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 degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.