College ROI

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Emory University

Atlanta, GA 7,298 Undergrads 92.2% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$83,622
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$22,585
After Aid
Median Earnings
$90,139
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$22,585
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$90,139
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$80,137
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate92.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age20.6
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients18.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS85.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
10.7%
SAT Avg
1,520
SAT Reading
25th: 72072075th: 760
SAT Math
25th: 75076075th: 790
ACT Composite
25th: 323375th: 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
+$768k
+$301k
+$283k
Median Cost$23k/yr
+$686k
+$220k
+$202k
Full Cost$84k/yr
+$467k
-$115
-$18k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
26
∞
Median Cost$23k/yr
31
249%
Full Cost$84k/yr
Never
-6%
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 Return80%

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-42%
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

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
$11,170
Earnings (4yr)
$57,474
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$83,279
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$150k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$21,515
Earnings (4yr)
$78,768
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$81,787
Natl Median: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$75,205
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,333
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$70,959
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$136,731
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$555k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$19,625
Earnings (4yr)
$79,034
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,477
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$78,866
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$116k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$159,541
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$726k
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,642
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$20,826
Earnings (4yr)
$111,631
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$366k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,143
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$66,762
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Median Debt
$18,210
Earnings (4yr)
$58,745
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,369
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$69,988
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$78,029
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$90,025
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$201k
Median Debt
$19,760
Earnings (4yr)
$76,993
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $118,943
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,839
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$63,028
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,612
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$90,043
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
+$188k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$237k
Median Debt
$23,172
Earnings (4yr)
$64,795
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Median Debt
$17,421
Earnings (4yr)
$73,795
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$15,250
Earnings (2yr)
$32,925
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$247k
Physical Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,944
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$94,001
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$232k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,702
Earnings (4yr)
$59,628
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (4yr)
$101,903
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$292k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,848
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$72,399
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,169
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$65,354
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$87,254
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$180k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
$20,983
Earnings (4yr)
$93,446
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
+$227k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Public Health
PB-CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$87,660
Natl Median: $78,697
Lifetime Value Added
+$167k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,346
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$170,901
Earnings (4yr)
$226,131
Natl Median: $162,386
Lifetime Value Added
+$1280k
Median Debt
$174,639
Earnings (4yr)
$134,153
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$496k
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$120,576
Natl Median: $110,121
Lifetime Value Added
+$378k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$60,046
Earnings (4yr)
$196,191
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$1031k
Median Debt
$47,269
Earnings (4yr)
$209,140
Natl Median: $125,988
Lifetime Value Added
+$1140k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$66,000
Earnings (4yr)
$88,235
Natl Median: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,173
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,486
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Genetics
MastCIP: 2608
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$72,671
Natl Median: $92,660
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
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)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$66,876
Earnings (4yr)
$108,211
Natl Median: $101,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$271k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,439
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$225k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$247,837
Natl Median: $198,417
Lifetime Value Added
+$1454k
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 (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
$66,000
Earnings (4yr)
$88,896
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
Median Debt
$63,050
Earnings (4yr)
$121,958
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$390k
Religious Education
MastCIP: 3904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,328
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$58,657
Earnings (4yr)
$63,450
Natl Median: $61,300
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,640
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Anthropology
DocCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,473
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $104,514
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$105,042
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $153,586
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$119,953
Natl Median: $131,848
Lifetime Value Added
+$161k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $149,621
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$49,019
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
-$358k
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,551
Natl Median: $65,831
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,271
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,718
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
DocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,550
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $113,071
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,534
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
DocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Nutrition Sciences
DocCIP: 3019
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,750
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: $90,908
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
DocCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,962
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$70,165
Earnings (4yr)
$130,211
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$236k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,175
Natl Median: $67,164
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
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

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$134,617
Earnings (4yr)
$152,126
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$397k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$181,971
Earnings (4yr)
$98,605
Natl Median: $112,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,502
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$146,677
Earnings (4yr)
$85,267
Natl Median: $81,641
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Median Debt
$50,560
Earnings (4yr)
$97,227
Natl Median: $63,395
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k

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.