College ROI

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National University

San Diego, CA 10,794 Undergrads 42.4% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$33,978
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$22,878
After Aid
Median Earnings
$81,115
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$22,878
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$81,115
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$67,548
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate42.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age31.7
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients28.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time59.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS83.2%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$699k
+$232k
+$214k
Median Cost$23k/yr
+$616k
+$150k
+$132k
Full Cost$34k/yr
+$577k
+$110k
+$92k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
28
∞
Median Cost$23k/yr
35
160%
Full Cost$34k/yr
40
75%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return236%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return12%
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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$10,453
Earnings (4yr)
$77,786
Natl Median: $75,809
Lifetime Value Added
+$264k
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
AssocCIP: 1500
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,343
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$10,500
Earnings (4yr)
$60,134
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,734
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,755
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $38,641
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$31,249
Earnings (4yr)
$79,696
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$121,408
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$439k
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
BachCIP: 5010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,240
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$28,125
Earnings (4yr)
$78,266
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$75,312
Natl Median: $65,784
Lifetime Value Added
+$76k
Median Debt
$27,906
Earnings (4yr)
$79,900
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$123k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$31,812
Earnings (4yr)
$95,555
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$242k
Median Debt
$32,813
Earnings (4yr)
$94,203
Natl Median: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
+$232k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$82,440
Natl Median: $97,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$168k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,124
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$81,299
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$133k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$100,721
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$282k
Median Debt
$23,342
Earnings (4yr)
$59,192
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$35,147
Earnings (4yr)
$59,956
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Median Debt
$28,334
Earnings (4yr)
$76,305
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$29,687
Earnings (4yr)
$59,645
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Homeland Security
BachCIP: 4303
Median Debt
$23,437
Earnings (4yr)
$80,134
Natl Median: $70,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,266
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$28,687
Earnings (4yr)
$94,118
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$231k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$97,525
Natl Median: $88,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$257k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$31,250
Earnings (4yr)
$58,727
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Natural Sciences
BachCIP: 3018
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,935
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Non-Professional Legal Studies
BachCIP: 2200
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Natl Median: $61,959
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$28,062
Earnings (4yr)
$66,849
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Psychology, Other
BachCIP: 4299
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,748
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$29,181
Earnings (2yr)
$74,576
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
+$105k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$34,156
Earnings (4yr)
$70,340
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Median Debt
$27,688
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$33,928
Earnings (4yr)
$114,413
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$386k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$27,687
Earnings (4yr)
$64,860
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,748
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Median Debt
$31,250
Earnings (4yr)
$53,761
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Median Debt
$36,688
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$93,465
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,462
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$29,725
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,241
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$39,365
Earnings (4yr)
$96,924
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$171k
Median Debt
$28,854
Earnings (4yr)
$78,497
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Median Debt
$28,604
Earnings (4yr)
$63,474
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$37,950
Earnings (4yr)
$132,798
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$483k
Median Debt
$40,950
Earnings (4yr)
$118,388
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
+$359k
Median Debt
$35,759
Earnings (4yr)
$65,405
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$77,748
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Median Debt
$23,388
Earnings (4yr)
$110,083
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$286k
Median Debt
$23,284
Earnings (4yr)
$93,547
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
MastCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,068
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$31,734
Earnings (4yr)
$108,725
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
+$275k
Median Debt
$32,416
Earnings (4yr)
$66,189
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,955
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,486
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$51,272
Earnings (4yr)
$81,355
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Homeland Security
MastCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,701
Natl Median: $96,660
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Median Debt
$36,708
Earnings (4yr)
$81,583
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$73,949
Natl Median: $97,121
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$118,874
Natl Median: $106,092
Lifetime Value Added
+$363k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$36,894
Earnings (4yr)
$88,945
Natl Median: $101,441
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$36,048
Earnings (4yr)
$71,001
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Median Debt
$33,712
Earnings (4yr)
$88,988
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$49,563
Earnings (4yr)
$73,936
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$99,114
Earnings (4yr)
$127,649
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$439k
Median Debt
$40,760
Earnings (4yr)
$54,662
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$204k
Median Debt
$34,433
Earnings (4yr)
$66,173
Natl Median: $82,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Median Debt
$53,471
Earnings (4yr)
$85,908
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,529
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$273k
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$46,814
Earnings (4yr)
$78,979
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,897
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$28,854
Earnings (4yr)
$67,015
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$54,661
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$184k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,509
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,709
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,395
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,259
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $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 (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.