College ROI

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Montana State University

Bozeman, MT 14,451 Undergrads 58.1% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$26,943
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$23,106
After Aid
Median Earnings
$65,991
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$23,106
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$65,991
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$59,536
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate58.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)21.5
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients18.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time89.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS73.4%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
82.1%
SAT Avg
1,183
SAT Reading
25th: 54059075th: 645
SAT Math
25th: 52558075th: 640
ACT Composite
25th: 212475th: 27

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
+$576k
+$106k
+$90k
Median Cost$23k/yr
+$493k
+$23k
+$7k
Full Cost$27k/yr
+$479k
+$9k
-$7k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
33
∞
Median Cost$23k/yr
59
8%
Full Cost$27k/yr
Never
-7%
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 Return81%

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 Return-31%

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 (2yr)
$25,967
Natl Median: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,679
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,027
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,930
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
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Associate's Degrees

Air Transportation
AssocCIP: 4901
Median Debt
$11,500
Earnings (4yr)
$74,026
Natl Median: $75,495
Lifetime Value Added
+$233k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,605
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,500
Earnings (4yr)
$36,357
Natl Median: $38,127
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,123
Natl Median: $55,895
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
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Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,792
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,250
Earnings (4yr)
$47,396
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
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Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,621
Natl Median: $66,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
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Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$46,313
Natl Median: $49,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
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Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$27,669
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$297k
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Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$64,133
Natl Median: $70,074
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
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Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,711
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
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Median Debt
$14,125
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biotechnology
BachCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,097
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$71,578
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
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Median Debt
$15,750
Earnings (4yr)
$66,498
Natl Median: $66,697
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
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Median Debt
$19,375
Earnings (4yr)
$87,590
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$183k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$82,785
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$99,411
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$273k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$22,750
Earnings (4yr)
$111,728
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$367k
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Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
BachCIP: 1510
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (4yr)
$89,002
Natl Median: $93,843
Lifetime Value Added
+$194k
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Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,511
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
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Median Debt
$20,375
Earnings (4yr)
$98,331
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$265k
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Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$47,757
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
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Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,702
Natl Median: $48,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
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Median Debt
$22,410
Earnings (4yr)
$45,300
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,341
Earnings (4yr)
$46,741
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
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Median Debt
$24,050
Earnings (4yr)
$49,241
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$18,875
Earnings (4yr)
$52,187
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$88,087
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$187k
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Median Debt
$17,650
Earnings (4yr)
$45,975
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,352
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$65,731
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
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Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$80,089
Natl Median: $82,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
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Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (4yr)
$88,653
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$191k
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Median Debt
$21,625
Earnings (4yr)
$60,221
Natl Median: $62,582
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,920
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$200k
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Median Debt
$12,625
Earnings (4yr)
$48,646
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
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Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
$21,892
Earnings (4yr)
$45,392
Natl Median: $56,567
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
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Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$51,285
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,215
Earnings (4yr)
$53,623
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
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Median Debt
$19,100
Earnings (4yr)
$76,146
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$18,030
Earnings (4yr)
$48,273
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
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Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,979
Natl Median: $57,887
Lifetime Value Added
-$182k
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Median Debt
$22,850
Earnings (4yr)
$45,523
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
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Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$46,657
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,192
Natl Median: $45,338
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
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Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$92,689
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$135k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$87,162
Natl Median: $77,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,271
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: $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)
-
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$51,264
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$239k
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Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,976
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
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Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,461
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$70,130
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,215
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,629
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
MastCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$83,329
Natl Median: $72,563
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,572
Natl Median: $51,486
Lifetime Value Added
-$286k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
-$210k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,125
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)
-
Natl Median: $119,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,651
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,523
Natl Median: $59,070
Lifetime Value Added
-$338k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,750
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
MastCIP: 0111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,814
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$78,343
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
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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: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,655
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,299
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Education, General
Gr-CertCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,629
Natl Median: $69,448
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,168
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
Gr-CertCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,297
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,560
Natl Median: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
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Doctoral Degrees

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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,031
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
DocCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $87,373
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $157,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,630
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,039
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,534
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: $101,435
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $87,076
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,153
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
DocCIP: 0111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,502
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$48,000
Earnings (4yr)
$126,894
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$210k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,306
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.