College ROI

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Michigan Technological University

Houghton, MI 5,955 Undergrads 69.9% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$35,364
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,446
After Aid
Median Earnings
$88,551
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$13,446
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$88,551
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$84,681
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate69.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)19.9
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients22.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time96.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS85.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
92.4%
SAT Avg
1,258
SAT Reading
25th: 57062075th: 680
SAT Math
25th: 56062075th: 670
ACT Composite
25th: 252875th: 31

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
+$746k
+$276k
+$260k
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$698k
+$228k
+$212k
Full Cost$35k/yr
+$619k
+$149k
+$133k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
27
∞
Median Cost$13k/yr
30
437%
Full Cost$35k/yr
37
104%
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 Return287%

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 Return25%

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 →

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$102,303
Natl Median: $53,634
Lifetime Value Added
+$581k
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Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,373
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k
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Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,889
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,817
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$9k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,713
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,005
Earnings (4yr)
$83,916
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$189k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,371
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
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Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$94,478
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$270k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,937
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
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Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (4yr)
$83,841
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$189k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,388
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,375
Earnings (4yr)
$93,557
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$263k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$105,428
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$354k
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Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$93,480
Natl Median: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
+$262k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,124
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$49,683
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
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Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$99,848
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$311k
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Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,599
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$93,993
Natl Median: $89,619
Lifetime Value Added
+$266k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,487
Earnings (4yr)
$76,857
Natl Median: $81,171
Lifetime Value Added
+$136k
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Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
BachCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,185
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$79,495
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$144k
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Forestry
BachCIP: 0305
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,912
Natl Median: $58,784
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$81,862
Natl Median: $77,880
Lifetime Value Added
+$174k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$68,499
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
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Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
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Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$92,070
Natl Median: $91,449
Lifetime Value Added
+$252k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,271
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k
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Median Debt
$24,317
Earnings (4yr)
$83,394
Natl Median: $82,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$186k
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Median Debt
$24,123
Earnings (4yr)
$88,860
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$227k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,539
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,508
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$319k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$14,375
Earnings (4yr)
$50,388
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
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Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,638
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$38,775
Natl Median: $45,338
Lifetime Value Added
-$175k
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Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Archeology
MastCIP: 4503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,995
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: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$82,992
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
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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
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$86,535
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
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Cognitive Science
MastCIP: 3025
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,800
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$150,350
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$627k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$58,221
Natl Median: $92,629
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
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Forestry
MastCIP: 0305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$45,696
Natl Median: $67,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$257k
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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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $94,646
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
$108,453
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$290k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,441
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $129,570
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Archeology
DocCIP: 4503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,119
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,683
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: $141,187
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,386
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: $157,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,112
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Forestry
DocCIP: 0305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,046
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,039
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
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: $78,692
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.