College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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DePaul University

Chicago, IL 14,090 Undergrads 67.7% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$63,052
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$30,902
After Aid
Median Earnings
$73,466
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$30,902
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$73,466
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$68,751
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate67.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age22.1
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients31.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time93.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
75.9%
SAT Avg
1,262
SAT Reading
25th: 580-75th: 670
SAT Math
25th: 560-75th: 660
ACT Composite
25th: 25-75th: 31

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
+$640k
+$173k
+$156k
Median Cost$31k/yr
+$529k
+$62k
+$45k
Full Cost$63k/yr
+$413k
-$53k
-$71k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
29
∞
Median Cost$31k/yr
46
40%
Full Cost$63k/yr
Never
-31%
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 Return33%

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-54%
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

Certificates

Median Debt
$23,412
Earnings (4yr)
$76,354
Natl Median: $58,705
Lifetime Value Added
+$329k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,696
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$93,592
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$198k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$24,707
Earnings (4yr)
$50,780
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Architectural History, Criticism, and Conservation
BachCIP: 0408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,353
Natl Median: $65,003
Lifetime Value Added
-$337k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$49,872
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
BachCIP: 5010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,240
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$26,600
Earnings (4yr)
$61,216
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
Median Debt
$23,051
Earnings (4yr)
$74,847
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
Median Debt
$20,670
Earnings (4yr)
$93,563
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$198k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$43,575
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
Median Debt
$20,834
Earnings (4yr)
$56,014
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Median Debt
$21,666
Earnings (4yr)
$84,554
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$101,315
Natl Median: $83,439
Lifetime Value Added
+$257k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$79,284
Natl Median: $97,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$114k
Median Debt
$24,999
Earnings (4yr)
$96,616
Natl Median: $58,894
Lifetime Value Added
+$222k
Median Debt
$22,166
Earnings (4yr)
$91,007
Natl Median: $73,587
Lifetime Value Added
+$179k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$113,645
Natl Median: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
+$351k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,213
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Median Debt
$26,348
Earnings (4yr)
$44,095
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$100,185
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$249k
Median Debt
$22,956
Earnings (4yr)
$52,608
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,016
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$46,969
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$93,719
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$199k
Median Debt
$26,175
Earnings (4yr)
$37,085
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$252k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,028
Natl Median: $43,283
Lifetime Value Added
-$184k
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$62,693
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$48,857
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$71,556
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$82,551
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$114k
Median Debt
$20,094
Earnings (4yr)
$68,180
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$21,666
Earnings (4yr)
$61,708
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Median Debt
$37,499
Earnings (4yr)
$86,444
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$144k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$94,197
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$203k
Median Debt
$22,859
Earnings (4yr)
$76,420
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$78,164
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $118,943
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$24,846
Earnings (4yr)
$89,908
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,612
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$22,379
Earnings (4yr)
$44,756
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$186k
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,622
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Median Debt
$24,999
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$53,498
Natl Median: $63,114
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,321
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$69,338
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
Median Debt
$22,449
Earnings (4yr)
$58,163
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$24,750
Earnings (4yr)
$55,664
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,721
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,332
Earnings (4yr)
$71,045
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Real Estate
BachCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$85,784
Natl Median: $84,821
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,460
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$23,166
Earnings (4yr)
$52,791
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,208
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,957
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$45,916
Earnings (4yr)
$100,161
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$185k
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
$37,197
Earnings (4yr)
$101,965
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
+$201k
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
MastCIP: 5010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,685
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,891
Natl Median: $71,241
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,371
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$52,402
Earnings (4yr)
$144,859
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$573k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,404
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$134,579
Natl Median: $139,553
Lifetime Value Added
+$461k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$134,449
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
+$483k
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (4yr)
$158,509
Natl Median: $148,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$691k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$96,644
Natl Median: $145,430
Lifetime Value Added
+$188k
Median Debt
$47,832
Earnings (4yr)
$158,667
Natl Median: $120,083
Lifetime Value Added
+$692k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$84,653
Natl Median: $114,420
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
Median Debt
$55,664
Earnings (4yr)
$124,777
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
+$399k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,073
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$87,842
Earnings (4yr)
$51,971
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
-$245k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,871
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$25,705
Earnings (4yr)
$117,154
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
+$333k
Median Debt
$47,092
Earnings (4yr)
$84,568
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,750
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,366
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$72,729
Earnings (4yr)
$46,553
Natl Median: $51,486
Lifetime Value Added
-$297k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$76,460
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Median Debt
$53,300
Earnings (4yr)
$58,803
Natl Median: $57,810
Lifetime Value Added
-$180k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,856
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$57,686
Earnings (4yr)
$118,027
Natl Median: $115,403
Lifetime Value Added
+$341k
Median Debt
$48,496
Earnings (4yr)
$99,840
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
+$182k
Median Debt
$54,516
Earnings (4yr)
$121,391
Natl Median: $112,705
Lifetime Value Added
+$370k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,289
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$40,198
Earnings (4yr)
$75,622
Natl Median: $95,627
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Journalism
MastCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$44,065
Earnings (4yr)
$51,338
Natl Median: $69,034
Lifetime Value Added
-$251k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$74,928
Earnings (4yr)
$74,702
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$58,541
Earnings (4yr)
$105,355
Natl Median: $79,106
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,441
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$38,670
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$375k
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology, Other
MastCIP: 3199
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,563
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$46,243
Earnings (4yr)
$86,093
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$46,944
Earnings (4yr)
$64,207
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$34,969
Earnings (4yr)
$83,583
Natl Median: $80,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Real Estate
MastCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$152,694
Natl Median: $135,104
Lifetime Value Added
+$641k
Median Debt
$101,373
Earnings (4yr)
$91,098
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,216
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$34,166
Earnings (4yr)
$59,820
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,129
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$69,147
Earnings (4yr)
$60,329
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
-$329k
Median Debt
$27,333
Earnings (4yr)
$77,204
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$76,460
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Median Debt
$67,557
Earnings (4yr)
$67,412
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$81,457
Natl Median: $76,897
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
$47,833
Earnings (4yr)
$129,565
Natl Median: $114,810
Lifetime Value Added
+$441k
Median Debt
$44,784
Earnings (4yr)
$63,616
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$66,235
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$71,497
Natl Median: $83,508
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,086
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,517
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,168
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,959
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,226
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
Gr-CertCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,246
Natl Median: $40,504
Lifetime Value Added
-$220k
Public Health
Gr-CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,684
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Sciences, General
Gr-CertCIP: 4501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,031
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,178
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $113,566
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$116,242
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
Computer Science
DocCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $178,476
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,031
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
DocCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,449
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$98,328
Earnings (4yr)
$187,364
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$626k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,410
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,822
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$131,463
Earnings (4yr)
$107,264
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,836
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,802
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,347
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.