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George Washington University
Washington, DC 10,848 Undergrads 84.3% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$80,727
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$37,454
After Aid
Median Earnings
$90,873
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$37,454
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$90,873
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate84.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients15.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time94.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS87.5%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
43.5%
SAT Avg
1,433
SAT Reading
25th: 68070075th: 750
SAT Math
25th: 67070075th: 750
ACT Composite
25th: 313275th: 34
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
+$746k
+$350k
+$262k
Median Cost$37k/yr
+$612k
+$215k
+$127k
Full Cost$81k/yr
+$456k
+$59k
-$29k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
27
∞
Median Cost$37k/yr
37
94%
Full Cost$81k/yr
Never
-10%
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 Return72%
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-44%
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
Certificates
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,834
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Associate's Degrees
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,492
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$24,750
Earnings (5yr)
$101,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$70,959
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$24,064
Earnings (5yr)
$83,602
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$23,871
Earnings (5yr)
$66,734
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
BachCIP: 1405
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$114,006
Lifetime Value Added
+$313k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$46,087
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$113,579
Lifetime Value Added
+$310k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$68,982
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$78,068
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$140,173
Lifetime Value Added
+$507k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$124,419
Lifetime Value Added
+$391k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$73,045
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,031
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,305
Lifetime Value Added
-$315k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$104,484
Lifetime Value Added
+$242k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$64,674
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$33,758
Lifetime Value Added
-$310k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$18,148
Earnings (5yr)
$131,971
Lifetime Value Added
+$446k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,801
Lifetime Value Added
-$251k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (2yr)
$44,971
Lifetime Value Added
-$193k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$73,794
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (5yr)
$93,149
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$20,939
Earnings (5yr)
$100,004
Lifetime Value Added
+$209k
Human Services, General
BachCIP: 4400
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$74,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
$21,875
Earnings (5yr)
$128,997
Lifetime Value Added
+$424k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$20,958
Earnings (5yr)
$84,705
Lifetime Value Added
+$94k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$81,856
Lifetime Value Added
+$73k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$22,975
Earnings (5yr)
$101,221
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$71,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$21,375
Earnings (5yr)
$94,843
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$65,865
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$21,723
Earnings (5yr)
$86,946
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$73,005
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$74,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$98,321
Lifetime Value Added
+$196k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$18,716
Earnings (5yr)
$91,325
Lifetime Value Added
+$144k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,513
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Systems Engineering
BachCIP: 1427
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$74,576
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
PB-CertCIP: 5110
Median Debt
$22,251
Earnings (2yr)
$53,775
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$36,992
Earnings (5yr)
$116,371
Lifetime Value Added
+$511k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
MastCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$139,995
Earnings (5yr)
$130,229
Lifetime Value Added
+$629k
Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$87,023
Lifetime Value Added
+$259k
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology
MastCIP: 2611
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$65,053
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (5yr)
$154,789
Lifetime Value Added
+$837k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$49,750
Earnings (5yr)
$82,556
Lifetime Value Added
+$221k
Communication and Media Studies
MastCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$90,709
Lifetime Value Added
+$291k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$90,707
Earnings (5yr)
$78,598
Lifetime Value Added
+$187k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$101,964
Lifetime Value Added
+$441k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$112,959
Lifetime Value Added
+$482k
Design and Applied Arts
MastCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$75,495
Earnings (5yr)
$75,673
Lifetime Value Added
+$162k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
MastCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$59,500
Earnings (2yr)
$23,351
Lifetime Value Added
-$315k
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
MastCIP: 2613
Median Debt
$67,389
Earnings (5yr)
$107,806
Lifetime Value Added
+$438k
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$106,178
Lifetime Value Added
+$424k
Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
$47,500
Earnings (5yr)
$52,259
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$74,062
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
Engineering-Related Fields
MastCIP: 1515
Median Debt
$40,193
Earnings (5yr)
$133,602
Lifetime Value Added
+$657k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Finance and Financial Management Services
MastCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$129,504
Lifetime Value Added
+$622k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,311
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$66,000
Earnings (5yr)
$122,503
Lifetime Value Added
+$563k
Hospitality Administration/Management
MastCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$58,750
Earnings (5yr)
$52,174
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$37,500
Earnings (5yr)
$100,579
Lifetime Value Added
+$376k
Information Science/Studies
MastCIP: 1104
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$129,307
Lifetime Value Added
+$621k
International and Comparative Education
MastCIP: 1307
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$79,565
Lifetime Value Added
+$195k
International Relations and National Security Studies
MastCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$56,634
Earnings (5yr)
$109,649
Lifetime Value Added
+$453k
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies
MastCIP: 2202
Median Debt
$78,277
Earnings (5yr)
$113,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$488k
Legal Support Services
MastCIP: 2203
Median Debt
$45,750
Earnings (5yr)
$76,042
Lifetime Value Added
+$165k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
MastCIP: 5213
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$106,421
Lifetime Value Added
+$481k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Museology/Museum Studies
MastCIP: 3014
Median Debt
$52,671
Earnings (5yr)
$63,516
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
MastCIP: 2609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,606
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Political Science and Government
MastCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$61,310
Earnings (5yr)
$106,800
Lifetime Value Added
+$429k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$46,979
Earnings (5yr)
$119,023
Lifetime Value Added
+$533k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$75,171
Earnings (5yr)
$91,259
Lifetime Value Added
+$296k
Public Policy Analysis
MastCIP: 4405
Median Debt
$53,242
Earnings (5yr)
$111,576
Lifetime Value Added
+$470k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
MastCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$51,254
Earnings (5yr)
$99,082
Lifetime Value Added
+$363k
Publishing
MastCIP: 0910
Median Debt
$40,899
Earnings (5yr)
$84,103
Lifetime Value Added
+$234k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$52,641
Earnings (5yr)
$121,358
Lifetime Value Added
+$553k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$89,000
Earnings (5yr)
$69,668
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k
Security Science and Technology
MastCIP: 4304
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (5yr)
$96,800
Lifetime Value Added
+$343k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$34,357
Earnings (5yr)
$72,490
Lifetime Value Added
+$134k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$47,000
Earnings (5yr)
$63,921
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Systems Engineering
MastCIP: 1427
Median Debt
$37,964
Earnings (5yr)
$146,616
Lifetime Value Added
+$767k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$37,269
Earnings (5yr)
$66,280
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$34,940
Earnings (5yr)
$75,112
Lifetime Value Added
+$157k
Graduate Certificates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Gr-CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$60,161
Lifetime Value Added
+$147k
Educational Administration and Supervision
Gr-CertCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (5yr)
$86,203
Lifetime Value Added
+$356k
Museology/Museum Studies
Gr-CertCIP: 3014
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,236
Lifetime Value Added
-$202k
Public Health
Gr-CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$147,016
Lifetime Value Added
+$919k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Gr-CertCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$119,328
Lifetime Value Added
+$664k
Special Education and Teaching
Gr-CertCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$86,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$360k
Doctoral Degrees
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
DocCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$148,723
Earnings (5yr)
$97,809
Lifetime Value Added
+$145k
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$61,345
Earnings (5yr)
$125,791
Lifetime Value Added
+$348k
Human Resources Management and Services
DocCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$204,153
Lifetime Value Added
+$912k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$61,789
Earnings (5yr)
$140,883
Lifetime Value Added
+$457k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$159,850
Earnings (5yr)
$87,189
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
DocCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$74,576
Lifetime Value Added
+$9k
Systems Engineering
DocCIP: 1427
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$182,661
Lifetime Value Added
+$758k
Professional Degrees
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$176,325
Earnings (5yr)
$142,941
Lifetime Value Added
+$472k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$197,284
Earnings (5yr)
$132,966
Lifetime Value Added
+$400k
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.