College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Duquesne University

Pittsburgh, PA 5,350 Undergrads 77.5% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$69,856
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$37,704
After Aid
Median Earnings
$74,301
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$37,704
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$74,301
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$81,698
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate77.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)20.4
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients22.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS86.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
83.6%
SAT Avg
1,276
SAT Reading
25th: 60064075th: 670
SAT Math
25th: 58062075th: 670
ACT Composite
25th: 262975th: 32

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
+$170k
+$153k
Median Cost$38k/yr
+$504k
+$34k
+$18k
Full Cost$70k/yr
+$388k
-$82k
-$98k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
29
∞
Median Cost$38k/yr
55
13%
Full Cost$70k/yr
Never
-39%
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 Return16%

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-60%

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

Median Debt
$24,125
Earnings (4yr)
$86,169
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$119k
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Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$105,387
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$266k
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Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$62,319
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
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Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$70,958
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
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Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$88,272
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$135k
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Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$77,822
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,898
Natl Median: $65,784
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,794
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
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Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$64,196
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
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Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$92,789
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$92,606
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$169k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,310
Natl Median: $58,894
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,025
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$83,781
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$95,128
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$188k
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Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (2yr)
$35,060
Natl Median: $61,911
Lifetime Value Added
-$283k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,090
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$78,157
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
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Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$65,169
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
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Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,081
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$69,977
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
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Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (4yr)
$66,542
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,164
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$46,217
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$199k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$54,435
Natl Median: $116,539
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
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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
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$66,444
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$23,625
Earnings (4yr)
$48,850
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
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Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,721
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,125
Earnings (4yr)
$64,538
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
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Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$84,802
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$109k
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Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$72,059
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$24,625
Earnings (4yr)
$55,050
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
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Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,883
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
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Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$48,096
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,535
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$91,105
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$94k
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Median Debt
$55,406
Earnings (4yr)
$121,848
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$362k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biotechnology
MastCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,682
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$45,742
Earnings (4yr)
$109,445
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$254k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$35,500
Earnings (4yr)
$63,278
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,444
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,087
Natl Median: $120,083
Lifetime Value Added
-$298k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,464
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$332k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$40,467
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$355k
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Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities
MastCIP: 5132
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,487
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,130
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$335k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,309
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$75,809
Earnings (4yr)
$57,792
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k
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Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,427
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$402k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,629
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,024
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
MastCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
-$286k
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Median Debt
$64,250
Earnings (4yr)
$105,299
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,007
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
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Religious Education
MastCIP: 3904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,328
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Religious Music and Worship
MastCIP: 3905
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,264
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,911
Natl Median: $63,216
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
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Median Debt
$31,500
Earnings (4yr)
$66,985
Natl Median: $82,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,130
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$257k
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Median Debt
$61,375
Earnings (4yr)
$53,860
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$240k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,909
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$259k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,910
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$221k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,507
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$86,356
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,809
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,831
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities
DocCIP: 5132
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,610
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,943
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,696
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
DocCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,449
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$93,342
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
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Median Debt
$69,000
Earnings (4yr)
$82,517
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,788
Natl Median: $78,692
Lifetime Value Added
-$274k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$67,660
Natl Median: $83,794
Lifetime Value Added
-$261k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,982
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$82,736
Earnings (4yr)
$82,014
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$175k
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Median Debt
$49,165
Earnings (4yr)
$131,534
Natl Median: $138,348
Lifetime Value Added
+$192k
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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.