College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Georgetown University

Washington, DC 7,569 Undergrads 94.9% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$88,741
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$40,815
After Aid
Median Earnings
$119,773
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$40,815
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$119,773
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$103,494
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate94.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age20.1
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients11.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time95.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS88.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
12.9%
SAT Avg
1,487
SAT Reading
25th: 70073575th: 770
SAT Math
25th: 69074575th: 780
ACT Composite
25th: 313475th: 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
+$993k
+$526k
+$509k
Median Cost$41k/yr
+$846k
+$379k
+$362k
Full Cost$89k/yr
+$674k
+$207k
+$189k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
24
Median Cost$41k/yr
30
246%
Full Cost$89k/yr
39
59%
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 Return202%

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-6%
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
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$141,931
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$528k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,750
Earnings (5yr)
$77,449
Natl Median: $58,891
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$17,380
Earnings (4yr)
$77,132
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
Median Debt
$14,975
Earnings (4yr)
$117,733
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$346k
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
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$15,750
Earnings (4yr)
$143,900
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$543k
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$118,999
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$356k
Median Debt
$16,000
Earnings (4yr)
$78,370
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (2yr)
$39,369
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$254k
Median Debt
$15,750
Earnings (4yr)
$152,744
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$610k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$143,686
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$542k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$16,640
Earnings (4yr)
$75,501
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Median Debt
$14,394
Earnings (4yr)
$159,452
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$660k
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$82,197
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
+$76k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$112,722
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$308k
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$65,574
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$138,263
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$501k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (4yr)
$105,944
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$257k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$127,760
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$422k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,612
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$13,249
Earnings (4yr)
$73,534
Natl Median: $63,114
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$264k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,384
Earnings (4yr)
$79,502
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$99,007
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$204k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$225k
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (5yr)
$84,741
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$70,025
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Median Debt
$13,625
Earnings (4yr)
$89,228
Natl Median: $67,452
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,169
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$13,266
Earnings (5yr)
$57,169
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,593
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$76,142
Earnings (4yr)
$91,661
Natl Median: $68,936
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Median Debt
$62,607
Earnings (5yr)
$94,206
Natl Median: $80,271
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biotechnology
MastCIP: 2612
Median Debt
$77,949
Earnings (4yr)
$126,361
Natl Median: $107,682
Lifetime Value Added
+$395k
Median Debt
$98,440
Earnings (4yr)
$188,160
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$929k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$80,847
Natl Median: $79,665
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,757
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$40,837
Earnings (4yr)
$153,948
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
+$633k
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$69,649
Earnings (4yr)
$99,537
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
+$161k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$65,500
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$80,400
Natl Median: $123,591
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$101,463
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
+$178k
Median Debt
$74,347
Earnings (4yr)
$180,878
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
+$866k
Median Debt
$80,900
Earnings (4yr)
$137,887
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$494k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,651
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Homeland Security
MastCIP: 4303
Median Debt
$62,182
Earnings (4yr)
$108,885
Natl Median: $96,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$243k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$85,539
Natl Median: $74,856
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Median Debt
$59,620
Earnings (4yr)
$109,895
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
+$252k
Median Debt
$66,566
Earnings (4yr)
$113,928
Natl Median: $107,835
Lifetime Value Added
+$287k
Median Debt
$78,681
Earnings (4yr)
$145,272
Natl Median: $97,121
Lifetime Value Added
+$558k
Median Debt
$74,360
Earnings (4yr)
$118,569
Natl Median: $95,627
Lifetime Value Added
+$327k
Journalism
MastCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$90,356
Natl Median: $69,034
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Law
MastCIP: 2201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,341
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$97,008
Earnings (4yr)
$171,631
Natl Median: $101,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$786k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,310
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$93,541
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Natl Median: $58,093
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,092
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $198,417
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$71,610
Earnings (4yr)
$97,357
Natl Median: $84,750
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k
Median Debt
$91,096
Earnings (4yr)
$62,965
Natl Median: $53,692
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,229
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$104,270
Earnings (4yr)
$91,038
Natl Median: $70,267
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
MastCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$78,000
Earnings (4yr)
$68,776
Natl Median: $67,681
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Median Debt
$65,578
Earnings (4yr)
$79,929
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$87,819
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k
Median Debt
$99,635
Earnings (4yr)
$110,634
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
+$258k
Median Debt
$49,149
Earnings (4yr)
$115,091
Natl Median: $80,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$297k
Median Debt
$74,237
Earnings (4yr)
$88,001
Natl Median: $75,972
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
Real Estate
MastCIP: 5215
Median Debt
$43,099
Earnings (4yr)
$154,778
Natl Median: $135,104
Lifetime Value Added
+$640k
Median Debt
$127,131
Earnings (4yr)
$127,831
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$408k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$98,956
Natl Median: $98,956
Lifetime Value Added
+$139k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$55,935
Earnings (4yr)
$81,035
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$838
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$143,619
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
+$544k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,226
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: $99,578
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
DocCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $135,560
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,435
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,328
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,943
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: $93,640
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
Median Debt
$212,494
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,164
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,860
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $214,836
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$162,286
Earnings (4yr)
$226,624
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$869k
Median Debt
$170,377
Earnings (4yr)
$99,212
Natl Median: $106,836
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$249,194
Earnings (4yr)
$90,785
Natl Median: $112,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k

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.