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Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL 23,458 Undergrads 61.9% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$21,054
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$8,001
After Aid
Median Earnings
$56,746
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$8,001
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$56,746
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate61.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients37.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time73.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS72.1%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
73.4%
SAT Avg
1,119
SAT Reading
25th: 53056575th: 620
SAT Math
25th: 51054575th: 590
ACT Composite
25th: 202375th: 26
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
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
+$491k
+$95k
+$7k
Median Cost$8k/yr
+$463k
+$66k
-$22k
Full Cost$21k/yr
+$416k
+$19k
-$69k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
55
∞
Median Cost$8k/yr
Never
-76%
Full Cost$21k/yr
Never
-91%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year 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 Return-60%
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-61%
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 with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$16,452
Earnings (5yr)
$68,963
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (5yr)
$35,488
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$30,749
Earnings (5yr)
$64,416
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management
BachCIP: 5010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,491
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$16,028
Earnings (5yr)
$54,209
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$17,238
Earnings (5yr)
$61,421
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$22,128
Earnings (5yr)
$47,301
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning
BachCIP: 0403
Median Debt
$21,114
Earnings (5yr)
$65,382
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$23,300
Earnings (5yr)
$81,802
Lifetime Value Added
+$179k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$18,375
Earnings (5yr)
$50,606
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$16,988
Earnings (5yr)
$87,918
Lifetime Value Added
+$224k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$96,084
Lifetime Value Added
+$286k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$15,450
Earnings (5yr)
$55,057
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (2yr)
$18,498
Lifetime Value Added
-$327k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$68,395
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$16,869
Earnings (5yr)
$49,119
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$18,425
Earnings (5yr)
$92,511
Lifetime Value Added
+$259k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (5yr)
$48,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Environmental Design
BachCIP: 0404
Median Debt
$14,347
Earnings (2yr)
$55,964
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$15,458
Earnings (5yr)
$68,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$13,867
Earnings (5yr)
$41,690
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$18,117
Earnings (5yr)
$53,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$16,514
Earnings (5yr)
$53,393
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other
BachCIP: 4399
Median Debt
$18,375
Earnings (5yr)
$56,270
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$53,494
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
$15,250
Earnings (5yr)
$61,198
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$19,201
Earnings (5yr)
$47,864
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (2yr)
$25,967
Lifetime Value Added
-$258k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$16,250
Earnings (5yr)
$74,519
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$16,875
Earnings (5yr)
$59,419
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$19,223
Earnings (5yr)
$53,969
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$20,875
Earnings (5yr)
$89,022
Lifetime Value Added
+$233k
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General
BachCIP: 3000
Median Debt
$19,111
Earnings (5yr)
$50,873
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Ocean Engineering
BachCIP: 1424
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$88,902
Lifetime Value Added
+$232k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$16,875
Earnings (5yr)
$52,473
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$16,048
Earnings (5yr)
$46,691
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Public Administration
BachCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$16,000
Earnings (5yr)
$44,985
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$17,050
Earnings (5yr)
$89,276
Lifetime Value Added
+$235k
Research and Experimental Psychology
BachCIP: 4227
Median Debt
$17,695
Earnings (5yr)
$47,985
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,925
Lifetime Value Added
-$194k
Social Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$17,744
Earnings (5yr)
$49,864
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (5yr)
$49,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,998
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$16,791
Earnings (5yr)
$53,645
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$55,262
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$36,200
Earnings (5yr)
$99,479
Lifetime Value Added
+$420k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$25,503
Earnings (5yr)
$72,803
Lifetime Value Added
+$191k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$93,889
Lifetime Value Added
+$372k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$73,737
Lifetime Value Added
+$238k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,796
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,394
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$59,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$103k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$25,049
Earnings (5yr)
$68,447
Lifetime Value Added
+$153k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,960
Lifetime Value Added
-$202k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$33,180
Earnings (5yr)
$78,866
Lifetime Value Added
+$243k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,594
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$25,469
Earnings (5yr)
$58,493
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,243
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$40,000
Earnings (5yr)
$108,982
Lifetime Value Added
+$502k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
MastCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,598
Lifetime Value Added
-$205k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,979
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$36,499
Earnings (5yr)
$62,993
Lifetime Value Added
+$105k
Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
$30,869
Earnings (5yr)
$100,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$427k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,087
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$49,436
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Graduate Certificates
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
Gr-CertCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,696
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Doctoral Degrees
Curriculum and Instruction
DocCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$72,796
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$109,688
Lifetime Value Added
+$338k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, 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 degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.