College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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North Dakota State University-Main Campus

Fargo, ND 9,471 Undergrads 64.3% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$23,716
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$15,543
After Aid
Median Earnings
$67,679
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$15,543
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$67,679
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$62,203
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate64.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age20.7
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients19.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time91.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS85.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
95.0%
SAT Avg
1,150
SAT Reading
25th: -58975th: -
SAT Math
25th: -61675th: -
ACT Composite
25th: 192375th: 25

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
+$596k
+$129k
+$112k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$540k
+$73k
+$56k
Full Cost$24k/yr
+$511k
+$44k
+$26k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
31
∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
41
100%
Full Cost$24k/yr
50
31%
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 Return156%

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-6%
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

Animal Sciences
CertCIP: 0109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,095
Earnings (4yr)
$81,273
Natl Median: $52,001
Lifetime Value Added
+$391k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$74,888
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,973
Natl Median: $40,334
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
Median Debt
$17,875
Earnings (4yr)
$77,296
Natl Median: $66,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$84,529
Natl Median: $84,624
Lifetime Value Added
+$185k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,690
Natl Median: $71,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$83,779
Natl Median: $53,588
Lifetime Value Added
+$179k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,152
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,086
Earnings (4yr)
$62,285
Natl Median: $53,676
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$77,589
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$132k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$21,439
Earnings (4yr)
$50,975
Natl Median: $49,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,197
Natl Median: $57,640
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,494
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$26,875
Earnings (4yr)
$65,148
Natl Median: $66,914
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
Median Debt
$24,384
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,784
Earnings (4yr)
$58,662
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Biotechnology
BachCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,097
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,245
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$67,405
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$54k
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (4yr)
$62,181
Natl Median: $65,784
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$83,992
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$180k
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (4yr)
$65,292
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$92,878
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$248k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$87,562
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$208k
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
BachCIP: 1510
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$95,019
Natl Median: $93,843
Lifetime Value Added
+$265k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$59,417
Natl Median: $97,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Median Debt
$21,125
Earnings (4yr)
$58,252
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,663
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
Median Debt
$26,625
Earnings (4yr)
$54,301
Natl Median: $55,753
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$34,512
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$225k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Median Debt
$21,050
Earnings (4yr)
$94,510
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$261k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$40,460
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,647
Natl Median: $57,461
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
BachCIP: 0302
Median Debt
$25,125
Earnings (4yr)
$52,570
Natl Median: $56,185
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$80,522
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,117
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,873
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$26,748
Earnings (5yr)
$45,134
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Homeland Security
BachCIP: 4303
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$62,649
Natl Median: $70,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,277
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Median Debt
$22,775
Earnings (4yr)
$50,052
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Median Debt
$25,625
Earnings (4yr)
$84,016
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$181k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,133
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$238k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,682
Natl Median: $66,387
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Median Debt
$22,875
Earnings (4yr)
$76,527
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$123k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$67,660
Natl Median: $88,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$71,027
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$83,767
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$166k
Median Debt
$26,097
Earnings (4yr)
$87,702
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$209k
Median Debt
$24,520
Earnings (4yr)
$64,014
Natl Median: $62,582
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Median Debt
$17,815
Earnings (4yr)
$53,907
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,578
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Median Debt
$18,481
Earnings (4yr)
$125,175
Natl Median: $116,539
Lifetime Value Added
+$493k
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,567
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,342
Earnings (4yr)
$52,834
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,736
Earnings (4yr)
$54,784
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Median Debt
$21,968
Earnings (4yr)
$54,656
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$73,935
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$23,324
Earnings (4yr)
$56,040
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Soil Sciences
BachCIP: 0112
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,122
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$48,986
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,791
Earnings (4yr)
$52,339
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Median Debt
$21,378
Earnings (4yr)
$44,457
Natl Median: $44,115
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Median Debt
$23,808
Earnings (4yr)
$50,701
Natl Median: $44,055
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $104,114
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,255
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,669
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
PB-CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,697
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
PB-CertCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,439
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
PB-CertCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,923
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,414
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,362
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,332
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,720
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
-$162k
Animal Sciences
MastCIP: 0109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,394
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,913
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$20,293
Earnings (4yr)
$66,004
Natl Median: $74,139
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,090
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$91,876
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $105,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,269
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,865
Earnings (4yr)
$63,602
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
MastCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$67,825
Natl Median: $72,563
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,332
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,151
Natl Median: $66,523
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Genetics
MastCIP: 2608
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,660
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Homeland Security
MastCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,660
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $58,524
Lifetime Value Added
-$290k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,306
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Materials Sciences
MastCIP: 4010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,810
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,750
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$195k
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
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$24,880
Earnings (2yr)
$55,964
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Soil Sciences
MastCIP: 0112
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,016
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$38,791
Earnings (4yr)
$56,299
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,153
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,772
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Animal Sciences
DocCIP: 0109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,778
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,683
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,507
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $113,566
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,578
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: $77,931
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,427
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,173
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,550
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
DocCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,718
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,500
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,538
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Materials Sciences
DocCIP: 4010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $144,084
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
DocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,592
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,696
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
$46,124
Earnings (4yr)
$119,874
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$186k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,410
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,692
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Soil Sciences
DocCIP: 0112
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,394
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
DocCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $156,733
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,794
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,436
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Median Debt
$79,304
Earnings (4yr)
$135,133
Natl Median: $138,348
Lifetime Value Added
+$298k

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.