College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Duke University

Durham, NC 6,442 Undergrads 96.6% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$87,072
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$29,612
After Aid
Median Earnings
$115,722
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$29,612
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$115,722
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$97,800
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate96.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age21.3
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients13.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS91.2%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
5.7%
SAT Avg
1,548
SAT Reading
25th: 74074575th: 770
SAT Math
25th: 76076875th: 800
ACT Composite
25th: 343475th: 35

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
+$962k
+$496k
+$478k
Median Cost$30k/yr
+$856k
+$389k
+$371k
Full Cost$87k/yr
+$649k
+$182k
+$165k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
25
∞
Median Cost$30k/yr
29
349%
Full Cost$87k/yr
40
53%
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 Return190%

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-9%
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

Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$81,120
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$20,682
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
-$384k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$83,192
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,713
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$13,894
Earnings (4yr)
$105,921
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$297k
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$86,703
Natl Median: $66,697
Lifetime Value Added
+$138k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$8,207
Earnings (2yr)
$27,216
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$324k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,500
Earnings (4yr)
$174,522
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$814k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$13,500
Earnings (4yr)
$195,809
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$973k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$13,187
Earnings (4yr)
$161,149
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$713k
Median Debt
$15,362
Earnings (5yr)
$78,024
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
+$73k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,171
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$112,377
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
+$346k
Median Debt
$8,000
Earnings (4yr)
$79,640
Natl Median: $78,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$97k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$88,098
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
+$161k
Literature
BachCIP: 2314
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,173
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$9,500
Earnings (4yr)
$297,029
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$1683k
Median Debt
$10,000
Earnings (4yr)
$120,991
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$411k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,941
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$11,875
Earnings (4yr)
$73,435
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k
Median Debt
$12,645
Earnings (4yr)
$73,140
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,016
Earnings (4yr)
$88,459
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$164k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$15,415
Earnings (4yr)
$73,359
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k
Psychology, Other
BachCIP: 4299
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,748
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$101,771
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$265k
Median Debt
$10,500
Earnings (4yr)
$103,071
Natl Median: $73,721
Lifetime Value Added
+$275k
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$87,763
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$159k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,708
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,425
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
$13,500
Earnings (4yr)
$152,782
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
+$650k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,629
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,708
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$81,405
Natl Median: $78,228
Lifetime Value Added
+$118k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $105,177
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$100,686
Natl Median: $103,122
Lifetime Value Added
+$301k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $146,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Religious Education
PB-CertCIP: 3904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,871
Natl Median: $58,256
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,987
Natl Median: $58,414
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$136,412
Earnings (4yr)
$132,468
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$468k
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
$65,507
Earnings (4yr)
$60,753
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$112,081
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
+$291k
Median Debt
$80,630
Earnings (4yr)
$222,160
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$1235k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$299,873
Natl Median: $76,837
Lifetime Value Added
+$1852k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,499
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$140,750
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
+$516k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$42,568
Earnings (4yr)
$144,681
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
+$574k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$162,879
Natl Median: $97,366
Lifetime Value Added
+$703k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,955
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
MastCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$84,677
Natl Median: $72,563
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$40,485
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
-$338k
Forestry
MastCIP: 0305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,357
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities
MastCIP: 5132
Median Debt
$68,791
Earnings (4yr)
$120,172
Natl Median: $100,487
Lifetime Value Added
+$362k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$117,357
Earnings (4yr)
$185,418
Natl Median: $97,121
Lifetime Value Added
+$925k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,627
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$193,055
Natl Median: $101,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$959k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$67,332
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Median Debt
$66,943
Earnings (4yr)
$152,389
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$640k
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$139,868
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$532k
Median Debt
$45,810
Earnings (4yr)
$163,348
Natl Median: $101,441
Lifetime Value Added
+$735k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,750
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$48,310
Earnings (4yr)
$96,411
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
Philosophy
MastCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,984
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k
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 (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$86,775
Earnings (4yr)
$80,065
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Median Debt
$66,331
Earnings (4yr)
$109,274
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
+$267k
Median Debt
$89,495
Earnings (4yr)
$122,410
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$381k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,038
Natl Median: $57,737
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,809
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$206k
Median Debt
$53,550
Earnings (4yr)
$58,405
Natl Median: $61,300
Lifetime Value Added
-$182k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
$143,658
Earnings (4yr)
$140,083
Natl Median: $125,392
Lifetime Value Added
+$672k
Median Debt
$98,014
Earnings (4yr)
$253,270
Natl Median: $99,117
Lifetime Value Added
+$1702k
Median Debt
$78,343
Earnings (4yr)
$137,549
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
+$648k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$108,721
Natl Median: $63,709
Lifetime Value Added
+$377k

Doctoral Degrees

Anthropology
DocCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,473
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,683
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $153,586
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$150,887
Natl Median: $131,848
Lifetime Value Added
+$341k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $113,566
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
DocCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
DocCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $178,476
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,173
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
DocCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $135,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $157,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,831
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,325
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,718
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Genetics
DocCIP: 2608
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$116,130
Natl Median: $102,123
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,039
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,725
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
DocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,550
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Law
DocCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$158,000
Earnings (4yr)
$261,230
Natl Median: $105,518
Lifetime Value Added
+$1145k
Mathematics
DocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,070
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Medicine
DocCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$142,262
Earnings (4yr)
$92,928
Natl Median: $118,504
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,435
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,592
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $87,076
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,943
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
DocCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,449
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,153
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,640
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,908
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$115,994
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
+$90k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $119,220
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$105,069
Earnings (4yr)
$161,843
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$443k
Median Debt
$161,694
Earnings (4yr)
$80,920
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,164
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,860
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
DocCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
DocCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $156,733
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,583
Earnings (4yr)
$97,542
Natl Median: $71,982
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k

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.