College ROI

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Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA 4,535 Undergrads 96.6% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$85,960
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$14,815
After Aid
Median Earnings
$159,005
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$14,815
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$159,005
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$152,553
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate96.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)19.3
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients21.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS94.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
4.5%
SAT Avg
1,560
SAT Reading
25th: 74076075th: 780
SAT Math
25th: 78080075th: 800
ACT Composite
25th: 343575th: 36

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
+$1.3M
+$798k
+$782k
Median Cost$15k/yr
+$1.2M
+$745k
+$729k
Full Cost$86k/yr
+$959k
+$489k
+$472k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
24
∞
Median Cost$15k/yr
25
1366%
Full Cost$86k/yr
31
153%
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 Return379%

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 Return48%

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
-
Earnings (4yr)
$114,620
Natl Median: $98,207
Lifetime Value Added
+$418k
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Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,914
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,772
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$194k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$94,408
Natl Median: $86,713
Lifetime Value Added
+$294k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$111,738
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$397k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$122,093
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$475k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,874
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$10,000
Earnings (4yr)
$225,141
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$1241k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$110,878
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$424k
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Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$161,118
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$768k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$147,998
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$669k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$65,238
Natl Median: $91,449
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$189,517
Natl Median: $118,943
Lifetime Value Added
+$952k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$174,951
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$871k
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Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$131,967
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$549k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Nuclear Engineering
BachCIP: 1423
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,297
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$131,025
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$542k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$151,237
Natl Median: $122,434
Lifetime Value Added
+$658k
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Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$87,003
Natl Median: $77,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
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Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$83,317
Natl Median: $74,139
Lifetime Value Added
+$54k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,398
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
$258,152
Natl Median: $125,988
Lifetime Value Added
+$1552k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,468
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$38,500
Earnings (4yr)
$100,130
Natl Median: $79,665
Lifetime Value Added
+$215k
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Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$112,220
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$302k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$199,245
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$1070k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
MastCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,034
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,282
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$200,732
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$1083k
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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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$110,878
Natl Median: $124,997
Lifetime Value Added
+$348k
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Systems Engineering
MastCIP: 1427
Median Debt
$62,750
Earnings (4yr)
$227,052
Natl Median: $144,565
Lifetime Value Added
+$1303k
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Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$126,504
Natl Median: $138,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$275k
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Architecture
DocCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,586
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,233
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $102,099
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$189,144
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
+$695k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $153,586
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$167,374
Natl Median: $131,848
Lifetime Value Added
+$536k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$184,436
Natl Median: $141,187
Lifetime Value Added
+$661k
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Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$137,404
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
+$317k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,533
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
DocCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Cognitive Science
DocCIP: 3025
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $118,884
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $154,538
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
DocCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $135,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$214,070
Natl Median: $157,305
Lifetime Value Added
+$875k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,039
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,285
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 (2yr)
$112,885
Natl Median: $131,070
Lifetime Value Added
+$171k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$112,923
Natl Median: $143,572
Lifetime Value Added
+$171k
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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: $90,908
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,108
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $162,438
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.