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North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC 26,389 Undergrads 84.2% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$25,613
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,931
After Aid
Median Earnings
$68,758
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$16,931
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$68,758
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate84.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients20.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time93.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS84.5%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
39.9%
SAT Avg
1,380
SAT Reading
25th: 64066575th: 720
SAT Math
25th: 66069075th: 740
ACT Composite
25th: 283075th: 32
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
+$584k
+$187k
+$99k
Median Cost$17k/yr
+$523k
+$126k
+$38k
Full Cost$26k/yr
+$492k
+$95k
+$7k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
32
∞
Median Cost$17k/yr
45
63%
Full Cost$26k/yr
59
8%
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 Return112%
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-20%
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
Associate's Degrees
Agricultural Business and Management
AssocCIP: 0101
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,604
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (5yr)
$83,729
Lifetime Value Added
+$161k
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
BachCIP: 1402
Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (5yr)
$94,192
Lifetime Value Added
+$239k
Agricultural Business and Management
BachCIP: 0101
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$65,304
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Agricultural Engineering
BachCIP: 1403
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$85,625
Lifetime Value Added
+$175k
Agricultural Mechanization
BachCIP: 0102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,819
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$20,921
Earnings (5yr)
$52,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$23,953
Earnings (2yr)
$31,133
Lifetime Value Added
-$243k
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$25,759
Earnings (2yr)
$49,019
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management
BachCIP: 5010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$39,789
Lifetime Value Added
-$185k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (5yr)
$85,665
Lifetime Value Added
+$175k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$68,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
BachCIP: 1405
Median Debt
$19,872
Earnings (5yr)
$99,115
Lifetime Value Added
+$276k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$81,060
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
Business/Managerial Economics
BachCIP: 5206
Median Debt
$22,062
Earnings (5yr)
$80,674
Lifetime Value Added
+$138k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$21,155
Earnings (5yr)
$103,529
Lifetime Value Added
+$309k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$217k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$23,972
Earnings (5yr)
$84,995
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$55,642
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$22,681
Earnings (5yr)
$110,896
Lifetime Value Added
+$364k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$111,385
Lifetime Value Added
+$368k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$20,374
Earnings (5yr)
$64,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$61,375
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (5yr)
$97,818
Lifetime Value Added
+$266k
Engineering, General
BachCIP: 1401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$63,997
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$20,724
Earnings (5yr)
$48,286
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1505
Median Debt
$21,141
Earnings (5yr)
$75,235
Lifetime Value Added
+$97k
Forestry
BachCIP: 0305
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (5yr)
$71,695
Lifetime Value Added
+$71k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$20,029
Earnings (2yr)
$30,409
Lifetime Value Added
-$249k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$73,284
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (5yr)
$50,095
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Industrial Engineering
BachCIP: 1435
Median Debt
$21,096
Earnings (5yr)
$96,510
Lifetime Value Added
+$257k
International/Global Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$22,366
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$297k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$19,028
Earnings (2yr)
$55,964
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Materials Engineering
BachCIP: 1418
Median Debt
$21,111
Earnings (2yr)
$61,516
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$19,949
Earnings (2yr)
$28,598
Lifetime Value Added
-$266k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$23,140
Earnings (5yr)
$91,136
Lifetime Value Added
+$216k
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
BachCIP: 2605
Median Debt
$22,956
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$21,073
Earnings (5yr)
$51,631
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Nutrition Sciences
BachCIP: 3019
Median Debt
$20,405
Earnings (5yr)
$62,347
Lifetime Value Added
-$601
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management
BachCIP: 3103
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,810
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
$19,432
Earnings (5yr)
$53,543
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$64,316
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,063
Earnings (5yr)
$53,870
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Science, Technology and Society
BachCIP: 3015
Median Debt
$20,846
Earnings (5yr)
$71,884
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$17,423
Earnings (5yr)
$48,322
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$18,200
Earnings (2yr)
$26,739
Lifetime Value Added
-$283k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
$23,430
Earnings (5yr)
$78,288
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$51,071
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$23,129
Earnings (5yr)
$57,040
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Textile Sciences and Engineering
BachCIP: 1428
Median Debt
$22,773
Earnings (5yr)
$71,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Zoology/Animal Biology
BachCIP: 2607
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (2yr)
$16,580
Lifetime Value Added
-$377k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$90,990
Lifetime Value Added
+$331k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$48,033
Earnings (2yr)
$54,322
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$118,602
Lifetime Value Added
+$567k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$113,353
Lifetime Value Added
+$523k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (2yr)
$97,071
Lifetime Value Added
+$434k
Computer Software and Media Applications
MastCIP: 1108
Median Debt
$29,283
Earnings (5yr)
$143,908
Lifetime Value Added
+$782k
Design and Applied Arts
MastCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$49,683
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$26,198
Earnings (5yr)
$73,365
Lifetime Value Added
+$179k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$35,629
Earnings (2yr)
$38,313
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
International Relations and National Security Studies
MastCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$33,450
Earnings (2yr)
$39,909
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Mechanical Engineering
MastCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$28,624
Earnings (5yr)
$111,987
Lifetime Value Added
+$511k
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
MastCIP: 2609
Median Debt
$35,206
Earnings (5yr)
$65,154
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$35,500
Earnings (2yr)
$49,019
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$29,440
Earnings (5yr)
$55,322
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$43,000
Earnings (5yr)
$55,979
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Systems Science and Theory
MastCIP: 3006
Median Debt
$20,403
Earnings (2yr)
$68,499
Lifetime Value Added
+$174k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$25,599
Earnings (5yr)
$58,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
Professional Degrees
Veterinary Medicine
ProfCIP: 0180
Median Debt
$134,308
Earnings (5yr)
$117,254
Lifetime Value Added
+$361k
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.