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Montclair State University
Montclair, NJ 18,376 Undergrads 70.0% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$28,305
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$15,566
After Aid
Median Earnings
$61,351
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$15,566
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (10yr)$61,351
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate70.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients46.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time93.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS73.5%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
87.9%
SAT Avg
1,070
SAT Reading
25th: 48055575th: 620
SAT Math
25th: 43055575th: 590
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
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
+$540k
+$80k
+$62k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$484k
+$24k
+$6k
Full Cost$28k/yr
+$438k
-$22k
-$40k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
36
∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
58
11%
Full Cost$28k/yr
Never
-39%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year 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 Return23%
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-49%
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 with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Certificates
Social Work
CertCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $43,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$84,906
Nat: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$177k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,435
Nat: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$47,225
Nat: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$81,519
Nat: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$23,486
Earnings (4yr)
$67,541
Nat: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$68,235
Nat: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,401
Nat: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1612
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$59,247
Nat: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$79,692
Nat: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$138k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
BachCIP: 1109
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $73,587
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
$26,776
Earnings (4yr)
$39,064
Nat: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
-$187k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$25,375
Earnings (4yr)
$56,176
Nat: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$39,248
Nat: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$185k
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
BachCIP: 2613
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (4yr)
$66,148
Nat: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$23,125
Earnings (4yr)
$45,337
Nat: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,429
Nat: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,511
Nat: $48,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,790
Nat: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$26,998
Earnings (4yr)
$43,564
Nat: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1905
Median Debt
$22,616
Earnings (4yr)
$59,866
Nat: $54,945
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,285
Nat: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (4yr)
$65,826
Nat: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1605
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,160
Nat: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,575
Nat: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,579
Nat: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Legal Professions and Studies, Other
BachCIP: 2299
Median Debt
$23,875
Earnings (4yr)
$61,036
Nat: $57,149
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$22,551
Earnings (4yr)
$51,469
Nat: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
$26,375
Earnings (4yr)
$42,017
Nat: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$162k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$22,125
Earnings (4yr)
$68,371
Nat: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1611
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $67,612
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$58,236
Nat: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,418
Nat: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (4yr)
$60,984
Nat: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$48,464
Nat: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,681
Nat: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (4yr)
$62,999
Nat: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$109,167
Nat: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$358k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
BachCIP: 5123
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Religion/Religious Studies
BachCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (4yr)
$55,208
Nat: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$22,375
Earnings (4yr)
$51,646
Nat: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$52,053
Nat: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,308
Nat: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Sustainability Studies
BachCIP: 3033
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $57,887
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$65,007
Nat: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Visual and Performing Arts, General
BachCIP: 5001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,156
Nat: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
PB-CertCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $60,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
PB-CertCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$27,015
Nat: $59,439
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$66,069
Nat: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$156k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
MastCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
MastCIP: 2602
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $80,271
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Nat: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
-$209k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$37,409
Earnings (4yr)
$117,544
Nat: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$564k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$36,500
Earnings (4yr)
$81,192
Nat: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$252k
Communication and Media Studies
MastCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$44,000
Earnings (4yr)
$67,490
Nat: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
+$133k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$108,975
Nat: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$490k
Dance
MastCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $55,404
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
MastCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
MastCIP: 2613
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$28,660
Earnings (4yr)
$65,095
Nat: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$27,500
Earnings (4yr)
$87,244
Nat: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$304k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1901
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $60,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services
MastCIP: 1905
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$67,155
Nat: $66,523
Lifetime Value Added
+$130k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
MastCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
MastCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $58,524
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Legal Professions and Studies, Other
MastCIP: 2299
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,288
Nat: $101,855
Lifetime Value Added
+$175k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
MastCIP: 1601
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $58,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
MastCIP: 5213
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,787
Nat: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
MastCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
MastCIP: 5120
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $129,214
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,383
Nat: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$150k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
MastCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$35,842
Earnings (4yr)
$66,259
Nat: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,657
Nat: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
+$204k
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$38,892
Earnings (4yr)
$66,833
Nat: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
+$127k
Sustainability Studies
MastCIP: 3033
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $76,897
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$25,784
Earnings (4yr)
$70,662
Nat: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
+$161k
Graduate Certificates
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
Gr-CertCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $65,509
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer and Information Sciences, General
Gr-CertCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $112,196
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Educational Administration and Supervision
Gr-CertCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$91,810
Nat: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
+$432k
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services
Gr-CertCIP: 1905
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $59,010
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
Gr-CertCIP: 1601
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $61,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
Gr-CertCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $60,655
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Sciences, General
Gr-CertCIP: 4501
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $96,031
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
Gr-CertCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$82,838
Nat: $69,362
Lifetime Value Added
+$348k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
Gr-CertCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$61,020
Nat: $64,774
Lifetime Value Added
+$178k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
Gr-CertCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Doctoral Degrees
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
DocCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $76,718
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
DocCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $92,538
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
DocCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $83,794
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
DocCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $81,822
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Other Programs
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
DegCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $56,308
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Special Education and Teaching
DegCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $70,406
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
DegCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $57,802
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, 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 degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.