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DePaul University
Chicago, IL 14,283 Undergrads 67.7% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$59,467
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$29,141
After Aid
Median Earnings
$68,751
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$29,141
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$68,751
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate67.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients31.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time93.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.0%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
73.5%
SAT Avg
1,254
SAT Reading
25th: 570-75th: 680
SAT Math
25th: 560-75th: 660
ACT Composite
25th: 26-75th: 31
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
+$584k
+$187k
+$99k
Median Cost$29k/yr
+$479k
+$82k
-$6k
Full Cost$59k/yr
+$370k
-$27k
-$115k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
32
∞
Median Cost$29k/yr
Never
-5%
Full Cost$59k/yr
Never
-54%
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 Return-9%
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-65%
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
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$92,255
Lifetime Value Added
+$181k
Architectural History and Criticism
BachCIP: 0408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,353
Lifetime Value Added
-$330k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (5yr)
$51,340
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$26,600
Earnings (5yr)
$62,046
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$23,051
Earnings (5yr)
$70,634
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Business/Managerial Economics
BachCIP: 5206
Median Debt
$20,670
Earnings (5yr)
$97,938
Lifetime Value Added
+$223k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$43,575
Lifetime Value Added
-$175k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$20,834
Earnings (5yr)
$59,525
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$21,666
Earnings (5yr)
$88,092
Lifetime Value Added
+$150k
Computer Programming
BachCIP: 1102
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (5yr)
$96,002
Lifetime Value Added
+$209k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$79,284
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
Computer Software and Media Applications
BachCIP: 1108
Median Debt
$24,999
Earnings (5yr)
$80,861
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
BachCIP: 1109
Median Debt
$22,166
Earnings (5yr)
$96,261
Lifetime Value Added
+$211k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$61,069
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$26,348
Earnings (5yr)
$33,700
Lifetime Value Added
-$281k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$77,103
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$22,956
Earnings (5yr)
$54,266
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$49,205
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (5yr)
$91,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$177k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$26,175
Earnings (5yr)
$41,040
Lifetime Value Added
-$219k
Graphic Communications
BachCIP: 1003
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
BachCIP: 5100
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (5yr)
$68,739
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$52,601
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (5yr)
$51,401
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$87,587
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$20,094
Earnings (5yr)
$55,741
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$21,666
Earnings (5yr)
$55,947
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$37,499
Earnings (5yr)
$86,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$134k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$94,414
Lifetime Value Added
+$197k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
BachCIP: 5213
Median Debt
$22,859
Earnings (5yr)
$73,253
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$78,633
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$24,846
Earnings (5yr)
$92,944
Lifetime Value Added
+$186k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$22,379
Earnings (5yr)
$40,267
Lifetime Value Added
-$225k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (5yr)
$53,761
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
BachCIP: 3005
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (2yr)
$18,771
Lifetime Value Added
-$400k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,321
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$69,338
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$22,449
Earnings (5yr)
$63,180
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$24,750
Earnings (5yr)
$53,943
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$22,332
Earnings (5yr)
$68,064
Lifetime Value Added
-$515
Real Estate
BachCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$85,784
Lifetime Value Added
+$132k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$55,163
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$23,166
Earnings (5yr)
$58,090
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$52,867
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (5yr)
$55,614
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$45,916
Earnings (5yr)
$100,063
Lifetime Value Added
+$386k
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
$37,197
Earnings (5yr)
$110,155
Lifetime Value Added
+$473k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$52,402
Earnings (5yr)
$145,735
Lifetime Value Added
+$775k
Communication and Media Studies
MastCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,356
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other
MastCIP: 1199
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$134,579
Lifetime Value Added
+$681k
Computer Engineering
MastCIP: 1409
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$121,831
Lifetime Value Added
+$573k
Computer Programming
MastCIP: 1102
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (5yr)
$125,642
Lifetime Value Added
+$605k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$96,644
Lifetime Value Added
+$408k
Computer Software and Media Applications
MastCIP: 1108
Median Debt
$47,832
Earnings (5yr)
$123,737
Lifetime Value Added
+$589k
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
MastCIP: 1109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$84,653
Lifetime Value Added
+$299k
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
MastCIP: 1110
Median Debt
$55,664
Earnings (5yr)
$136,094
Lifetime Value Added
+$694k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
MastCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$87,842
Earnings (5yr)
$38,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$25,705
Earnings (5yr)
$103,046
Lifetime Value Added
+$412k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$47,092
Earnings (2yr)
$66,077
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,750
Lifetime Value Added
+$73k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
MastCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$72,729
Earnings (5yr)
$50,631
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Finance and Financial Management Services
MastCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$76,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$224k
Graphic Communications
MastCIP: 1003
Median Debt
$53,300
Earnings (5yr)
$51,746
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Human Computer Interaction
MastCIP: 3031
Median Debt
$57,686
Earnings (5yr)
$125,108
Lifetime Value Added
+$600k
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$48,496
Earnings (5yr)
$121,200
Lifetime Value Added
+$567k
Information Science/Studies
MastCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$54,516
Earnings (5yr)
$125,133
Lifetime Value Added
+$601k
International Relations and National Security Studies
MastCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$40,198
Earnings (5yr)
$79,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$207k
Journalism
MastCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$44,065
Earnings (5yr)
$60,656
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
MastCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$74,928
Earnings (2yr)
$64,493
Lifetime Value Added
+$114k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$36,021
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$46,243
Earnings (5yr)
$82,735
Lifetime Value Added
+$238k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$46,944
Earnings (5yr)
$71,348
Lifetime Value Added
+$140k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
MastCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$34,969
Earnings (5yr)
$78,943
Lifetime Value Added
+$205k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$101,373
Earnings (5yr)
$88,366
Lifetime Value Added
+$286k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
MastCIP: 2313
Median Debt
$34,166
Earnings (5yr)
$55,373
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$69,147
Earnings (5yr)
$68,094
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$27,333
Earnings (2yr)
$56,157
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$76,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$224k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$67,557
Earnings (5yr)
$64,635
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
$47,833
Earnings (5yr)
$141,079
Lifetime Value Added
+$736k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$44,784
Earnings (5yr)
$60,064
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$68,230
Lifetime Value Added
+$113k
Urban Studies/Affairs
MastCIP: 4512
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$71,497
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
Graduate Certificates
Music
Gr-CertCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,246
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Doctoral Degrees
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
DocCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$82,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
Professional Degrees
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$131,463
Earnings (5yr)
$98,094
Lifetime Value Added
+$177k
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.