College ROI

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Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

Atlanta, GA 18,785 Undergrads 92.7% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$29,041
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,028
After Aid
Median Earnings
$114,153
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$12,028
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$114,153
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$114,210
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate92.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)20.5
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients16.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time93.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS92.4%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
14.1%
SAT Avg
1,480
SAT Reading
25th: 68072075th: 750
SAT Math
25th: 69076075th: 790
ACT Composite
25th: 303375th: 34

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
+$938k
+$468k
+$451k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$894k
+$424k
+$408k
Full Cost$29k/yr
+$833k
+$363k
+$347k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
25
∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
26
942%
Full Cost$29k/yr
29
332%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
  • 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 Return716%

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 Return154%

Program ROI Analysis

These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (4yr)
$102,415
Natl Median: $98,207
Lifetime Value Added
+$336k
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Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$71,292
Natl Median: $66,914
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
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Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$72,940
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
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Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$71,100
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
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Median Debt
$21,875
Earnings (4yr)
$102,755
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$338k
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Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$106,155
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$364k
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Median Debt
$24,125
Earnings (4yr)
$104,104
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$349k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$16,901
Earnings (4yr)
$85,133
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$204k
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Median Debt
$19,375
Earnings (4yr)
$150,628
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$699k
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Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$128,497
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$533k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,894
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$95,697
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
+$284k
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Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$111,655
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$406k
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Median Debt
$21,966
Earnings (4yr)
$81,818
Natl Median: $81,171
Lifetime Value Added
+$179k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,071
Earnings (4yr)
$128,003
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$529k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,264
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
+$159k
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International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,394
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
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Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$92,260
Natl Median: $91,449
Lifetime Value Added
+$258k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$122,099
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$485k
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Median Debt
$19,888
Earnings (4yr)
$99,955
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$317k
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Nuclear Engineering
BachCIP: 1423
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$114,772
Natl Median: $99,297
Lifetime Value Added
+$430k
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Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$19,239
Earnings (4yr)
$82,431
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$183k
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Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,721
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,437
Earnings (4yr)
$99,915
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
+$317k
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Median Debt
$14,500
Earnings (4yr)
$83,012
Natl Median: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
+$188k
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Median Debt
$23,875
Earnings (4yr)
$65,454
Natl Median: $67,452
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
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Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$31,106
Earnings (4yr)
$126,979
Natl Median: $122,434
Lifetime Value Added
+$454k
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Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$51,330
Earnings (4yr)
$85,081
Natl Median: $77,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
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Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (4yr)
$123,746
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
+$426k
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Median Debt
$84,506
Earnings (4yr)
$178,484
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$897k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,468
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,440
Earnings (4yr)
$85,806
Natl Median: $79,665
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
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Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$99,226
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$212k
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Median Debt
$21,664
Earnings (4yr)
$195,622
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$1044k
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Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$27,346
Earnings (4yr)
$169,689
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$822k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,083
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$34,594
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,073
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,775
Earnings (4yr)
$143,627
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$597k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,629
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$164,427
Natl Median: $119,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$777k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$103,058
Natl Median: $95,627
Lifetime Value Added
+$228k
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Median Debt
$47,824
Earnings (4yr)
$180,530
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$915k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $122,873
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,282
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,159
Earnings (4yr)
$123,205
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$421k
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Nuclear Engineering
MastCIP: 1423
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $117,400
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Operations Research
MastCIP: 1437
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $161,561
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,997
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Systems Engineering
MastCIP: 1427
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$168,407
Natl Median: $144,565
Lifetime Value Added
+$811k
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Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$134,630
Natl Median: $138,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$307k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,729
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Architecture
DocCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,586
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $153,586
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,848
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $113,566
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $141,187
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$137,217
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
+$326k
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Civil Engineering
DocCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $154,538
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
DocCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $178,476
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$106,421
Natl Median: $157,305
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,039
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: $126,925
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,694
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,845
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
DocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,070
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $143,572
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: $78,108
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,410
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.