College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Duke University

Durham, NC 6,442 Undergrads 96.6% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$90,696
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$23,706
After Aid
Median Earnings
$108,545
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$23,706
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$108,545
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$113,937
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate96.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)21.3
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients16.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS88.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
5.7%
SAT Avg
1,548
SAT Reading
25th: 74076075th: 770
SAT Math
25th: 76078075th: 800
ACT Composite
25th: 343575th: 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
+$896k
+$426k
+$409k
Median Cost$24k/yr
+$811k
+$340k
+$324k
Full Cost$91k/yr
+$569k
+$99k
+$83k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
25
∞
Median Cost$24k/yr
29
380%
Full Cost$91k/yr
47
25%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
  • 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 Return137%

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-26%

Program ROI Analysis

These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →

Bachelor's Degrees

Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$81,120
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
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Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$20,682
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
-$364k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$14,196
Earnings (4yr)
$83,192
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$147k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,713
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,125
Earnings (4yr)
$105,921
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$320k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,801
Natl Median: $66,697
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$27,216
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$304k
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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
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$174,522
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$836k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$195,809
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$995k
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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
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$161,149
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$736k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k
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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
-
Earnings (4yr)
$112,377
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
+$369k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,640
Natl Median: $78,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$88,098
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
+$184k
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Literature
BachCIP: 2314
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,173
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$13,875
Earnings (4yr)
$297,029
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$1708k
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Median Debt
$13,250
Earnings (4yr)
$120,991
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$435k
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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
$12,703
Earnings (4yr)
$73,435
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k
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Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$73,140
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$70k
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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
$12,537
Earnings (4yr)
$88,459
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$187k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,359
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k
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Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$101,771
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$289k
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Median Debt
$13,625
Earnings (4yr)
$103,071
Natl Median: $73,721
Lifetime Value Added
+$299k
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Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$87,763
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$182k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$100,970
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$268k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,425
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
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Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
$13,500
Earnings (4yr)
$152,782
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
+$673k
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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
+$125k
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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
+$308k
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Religious Education
PB-CertCIP: 3904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,871
Natl Median: $58,256
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,987
Natl Median: $58,414
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
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Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$138,780
Earnings (4yr)
$132,468
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$480k
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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
$69,633
Earnings (4yr)
$60,753
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
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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
+$303k
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Median Debt
$118,030
Earnings (4yr)
$222,160
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$1246k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$299,873
Natl Median: $76,837
Lifetime Value Added
+$1866k
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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 (2yr)
$76,460
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$54,798
Earnings (4yr)
$144,681
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
+$585k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$61,516
Natl Median: $97,366
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,955
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
MastCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$58,221
Natl Median: $72,563
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$40,485
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
-$329k
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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
$56,454
Earnings (4yr)
$120,172
Natl Median: $100,487
Lifetime Value Added
+$374k
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History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$138,905
Earnings (4yr)
$185,418
Natl Median: $97,121
Lifetime Value Added
+$936k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,627
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$67,332
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
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Median Debt
$70,300
Earnings (4yr)
$152,389
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$652k
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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
+$544k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$163,348
Natl Median: $101,441
Lifetime Value Added
+$746k
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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
$54,073
Earnings (4yr)
$96,411
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
+$166k
Try this program with your own numbers →
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
-$193k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$107,385
Natl Median: $67,681
Lifetime Value Added
+$244k
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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
-
Earnings (4yr)
$80,065
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
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Median Debt
$65,858
Earnings (4yr)
$109,274
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
+$279k
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Median Debt
$83,122
Earnings (4yr)
$122,410
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$393k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,038
Natl Median: $57,737
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
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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
-$196k
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Median Debt
$50,269
Earnings (4yr)
$58,405
Natl Median: $61,300
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k
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Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$140,083
Natl Median: $125,392
Lifetime Value Added
+$679k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$97,603
Natl Median: $97,603
Lifetime Value Added
+$260k
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Median Debt
$90,977
Earnings (4yr)
$253,270
Natl Median: $99,117
Lifetime Value Added
+$1710k
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Median Debt
$60,853
Earnings (4yr)
$137,549
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
+$655k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$108,721
Natl Median: $63,709
Lifetime Value Added
+$384k
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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)
$128,137
Natl Median: $131,848
Lifetime Value Added
+$199k
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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: $68,718
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Genetics
DocCIP: 2608
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$116,130
Natl Median: $102,123
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
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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
$166,757
Earnings (4yr)
$261,230
Natl Median: $105,518
Lifetime Value Added
+$1167k
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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
$158,998
Earnings (4yr)
$92,928
Natl Median: $118,504
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
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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 (2yr)
$46,087
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$389k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $119,220
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$122,626
Earnings (4yr)
$161,843
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$464k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$173,276
Earnings (4yr)
$80,920
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
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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
$42,252
Earnings (4yr)
$97,542
Natl Median: $71,982
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
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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.