College ROI

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Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

Atlanta, GA 18,785 Undergrads 92.6% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$28,167
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,116
After Aid
Median Earnings
$119,180
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$12,116
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$119,180
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$102,772
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate92.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age20.5
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients14.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time93.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS92.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
14.1%
SAT Avg
1,480
SAT Reading
25th: 68068075th: 750
SAT Math
25th: 69072575th: 790
ACT Composite
25th: 303275th: 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
+$989k
+$522k
+$504k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$945k
+$478k
+$461k
Full Cost$28k/yr
+$887k
+$420k
+$403k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
24
∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
26
1056%
Full Cost$28k/yr
28
397%
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 Return844%

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 Return195%
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
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$102,415
Natl Median: $98,207
Lifetime Value Added
+$333k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Natl Median: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$28,192
Earnings (4yr)
$71,292
Natl Median: $66,914
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$72,940
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$66,658
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Median Debt
$21,375
Earnings (4yr)
$102,755
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$336k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$106,155
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$362k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,941
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Median Debt
$26,250
Earnings (4yr)
$104,104
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$346k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$85,133
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$201k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$150,628
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$697k
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$128,497
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$531k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,894
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,354
Earnings (4yr)
$95,697
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
+$282k
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$111,655
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$404k
Median Debt
$25,102
Earnings (4yr)
$81,818
Natl Median: $81,171
Lifetime Value Added
+$176k
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
$19,791
Earnings (4yr)
$128,003
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$527k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,264
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
+$157k
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
Median Debt
$16,936
Earnings (4yr)
$92,260
Natl Median: $91,449
Lifetime Value Added
+$256k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$122,099
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$483k
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$99,955
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$315k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,478
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Nuclear Engineering
BachCIP: 1423
Median Debt
$21,426
Earnings (4yr)
$114,772
Natl Median: $99,297
Lifetime Value Added
+$427k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$82,431
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$181k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,721
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,840
Earnings (4yr)
$99,915
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
+$314k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$83,012
Natl Median: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
+$185k
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$65,454
Natl Median: $67,452
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$126,979
Natl Median: $122,434
Lifetime Value Added
+$453k
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$58,158
Earnings (4yr)
$85,081
Natl Median: $77,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$78,996
Natl Median: $74,139
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
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
$61,324
Earnings (4yr)
$123,746
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
+$425k
Median Debt
$79,015
Earnings (4yr)
$178,484
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$898k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,526
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
$47,538
Earnings (4yr)
$85,806
Natl Median: $79,665
Lifetime Value Added
+$94k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$21,044
Earnings (4yr)
$99,226
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$211k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$195,622
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$1045k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$40,321
Earnings (4yr)
$169,689
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$822k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,083
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
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
$25,618
Earnings (4yr)
$143,627
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$597k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,717
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
+$776k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Natl Median: $95,627
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k
Median Debt
$31,229
Earnings (4yr)
$180,530
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$915k
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
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$123,205
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$420k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$88,100
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
+$114k
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

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$134,630
Natl Median: $138,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$306k
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: $123,110
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
+$325k
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
+$130k
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
Public Health
DocCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,962
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.