College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Michigan Technological University

Houghton, MI 5,955 Undergrads 70.5% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$34,152
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$14,182
After Aid
Median Earnings
$84,560
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$14,182
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$84,560
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$78,198
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate70.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age19.9
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients19.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time96.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS86.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
92.4%
SAT Avg
1,258
SAT Reading
25th: 57061075th: 680
SAT Math
25th: 56062375th: 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
+$725k
+$258k
+$241k
Median Cost$14k/yr
+$674k
+$207k
+$190k
Full Cost$34k/yr
+$602k
+$135k
+$118k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
27
∞
Median Cost$14k/yr
31
372%
Full Cost$34k/yr
37
96%
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 Return275%

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 Return24%
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

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$101,711
Natl Median: $53,634
Lifetime Value Added
+$571k
International/Globalization Studies
CertCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,099
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,699
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

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
+$112k
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
$21,199
Earnings (5yr)
$45,588
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,713
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$83,916
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$185k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$76,798
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$119k
Median Debt
$23,875
Earnings (4yr)
$94,478
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$265k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,937
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$24,625
Earnings (4yr)
$83,841
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$184k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$69,388
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,384
Natl Median: $55,384
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$93,557
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$258k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$105,428
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$349k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$93,480
Natl Median: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
+$258k
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
-$68k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$99,848
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$306k
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,599
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,875
Earnings (4yr)
$93,993
Natl Median: $89,619
Lifetime Value Added
+$262k
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
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$76,857
Natl Median: $81,171
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
BachCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,185
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,774
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Forestry
BachCIP: 0305
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,912
Natl Median: $58,784
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,198
Earnings (4yr)
$81,862
Natl Median: $77,880
Lifetime Value Added
+$169k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (2yr)
$68,499
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,635
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$92,070
Natl Median: $91,449
Lifetime Value Added
+$247k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$73,271
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$103k
Median Debt
$29,598
Earnings (4yr)
$83,394
Natl Median: $82,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$181k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$88,860
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$222k
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 (5yr)
$41,654
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
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
$19,250
Earnings (4yr)
$50,388
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
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
-$177k

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
$19,750
Earnings (4yr)
$82,992
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
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
+$96k
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 (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$58,221
Natl Median: $92,629
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
Forestry
MastCIP: 0305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$45,696
Natl Median: $67,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$257k
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
+$288k
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: $93,020
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
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: $72,899
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: $119,220
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.