College ROI

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Fordham University

Bronx, NY 10,512 Undergrads 81.5% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$82,762
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$44,338
After Aid
Median Earnings
$84,203
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$44,338
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$84,203
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$85,569
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate81.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age20.4
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients21.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time96.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS81.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
59.3%
SAT Avg
1,418
SAT Reading
25th: 66069075th: 730
SAT Math
25th: 66070075th: 750
ACT Composite
25th: 303275th: 33

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
+$722k
+$255k
+$238k
Median Cost$44k/yr
+$563k
+$96k
+$78k
Full Cost$83k/yr
+$425k
-$42k
-$60k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
27
∞
Median Cost$44k/yr
43
49%
Full Cost$83k/yr
Never
-20%
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 Return53%

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-49%
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

Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$117,024
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$328k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$22,562
Earnings (4yr)
$66,562
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$75,563
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Median Debt
$23,849
Earnings (4yr)
$70,101
Natl Median: $58,891
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$73,136
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$90,192
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,407
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: $50,477
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,615
Earnings (4yr)
$77,244
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Median Debt
$26,424
Earnings (4yr)
$97,265
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$178k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,036
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
-$215k
Median Debt
$26,826
Earnings (4yr)
$46,317
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$221k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$94,170
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$155k
Engineering Physics
BachCIP: 1412
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$90,465
Natl Median: $89,154
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$63,834
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,738
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
Median Debt
$26,870
Earnings (4yr)
$141,860
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$515k
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (4yr)
$60,515
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$96,059
Natl Median: $70,867
Lifetime Value Added
+$155k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$72,389
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$106,665
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$250k
Median Debt
$24,759
Earnings (4yr)
$77,234
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$26,324
Earnings (4yr)
$72,475
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,011
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$26,933
Earnings (4yr)
$90,733
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$128k
Median Debt
$22,375
Earnings (4yr)
$117,344
Natl Median: $88,839
Lifetime Value Added
+$331k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$93,224
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$147k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,941
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,044
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$71,430
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Median Debt
$26,917
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$74,507
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$74,419
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$62,273
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$84,366
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Median Debt
$25,247
Earnings (4yr)
$61,877
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$83,961
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,812
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$66,349
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$25,495
Earnings (4yr)
$71,581
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$71,957
Natl Median: $62,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$65,848
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$37,000
Earnings (4yr)
$126,830
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$392k
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$50,293
Earnings (4yr)
$143,127
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$533k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,241
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,412
Natl Median: $85,444
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$112,394
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$248k
Median Debt
$29,139
Earnings (4yr)
$150,150
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
+$594k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Data Processing
MastCIP: 1103
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $156,135
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$105,001
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
+$203k
Median Debt
$21,199
Earnings (4yr)
$106,668
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$217k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,937
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$350k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$201,439
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
+$1002k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$93,706
Natl Median: $95,627
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
Median Debt
$70,674
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,855
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$62,192
Earnings (4yr)
$117,083
Natl Median: $101,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$308k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,991
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$70,570
Earnings (4yr)
$75,682
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,024
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
MastCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,194
Natl Median: $60,272
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
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
Psychology, Other
MastCIP: 4299
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,796
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Real Estate
MastCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $135,104
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Religious Education
MastCIP: 3904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,328
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,216
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$50,500
Earnings (4yr)
$70,342
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Median Debt
$32,501
Earnings (4yr)
$79,567
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$128,385
Natl Median: $114,810
Lifetime Value Added
+$406k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$86,055
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$84,957
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,300
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,634
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,692
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$106,592
Earnings (4yr)
$84,790
Natl Median: $65,509
Lifetime Value Added
+$136k
Economics
Gr-CertCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $118,588
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $118,893
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,515
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,178
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$83,264
Earnings (4yr)
$112,494
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,031
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
DocCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $135,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, Other
DocCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,635
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$140,055
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$56,415
Natl Median: $65,831
Lifetime Value Added
-$375k
History
DocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,550
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,854
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
DocCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,449
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,164
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,129
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,410
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
DocCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,982
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$147,561
Earnings (4yr)
$232,595
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$897k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$63,005
Natl Median: $86,371
Lifetime Value Added
-$322k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,836
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

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.