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
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Total Cost
$24,407
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$15,636
After Aid
Median Earnings
$71,282
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$15,636
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$71,282
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$65,925
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate64.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)20.7
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients22.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time91.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS84.4%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
95.0%
SAT Avg
1,150
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
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
+$617k
+$147k
+$131k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$561k
+$91k
+$74k
Full Cost$24k/yr
+$529k
+$59k
+$43k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
30
∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
38
132%
Full Cost$24k/yr
45
49%
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 Return185%

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-1%

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 (4yr)
$81,273
Natl Median: $52,001
Lifetime Value Added
+$394k
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Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$16,471
Earnings (4yr)
$74,888
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$113k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,973
Natl Median: $40,334
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
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Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (4yr)
$77,296
Natl Median: $66,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$84,529
Natl Median: $84,624
Lifetime Value Added
+$186k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,690
Natl Median: $71,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
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Median Debt
$23,246
Earnings (4yr)
$83,779
Natl Median: $53,588
Lifetime Value Added
+$181k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,152
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,285
Natl Median: $53,676
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
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Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$77,589
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$133k
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Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,975
Natl Median: $49,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
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Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,197
Natl Median: $57,640
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
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Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$23,715
Earnings (4yr)
$65,148
Natl Median: $66,914
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,662
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
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Biotechnology
BachCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,097
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$67,405
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,181
Natl Median: $65,784
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$25,037
Earnings (4yr)
$83,992
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$182k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,292
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
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Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$92,878
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$250k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$87,562
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$209k
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Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
BachCIP: 1510
Median Debt
$21,264
Earnings (4yr)
$95,019
Natl Median: $93,843
Lifetime Value Added
+$266k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$59,417
Natl Median: $97,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
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Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,252
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
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Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,663
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,301
Natl Median: $55,753
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,267
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$302k
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Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$68,646
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$54k
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Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$94,510
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$262k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,460
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,647
Natl Median: $57,461
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
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Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
BachCIP: 0302
Median Debt
$18,815
Earnings (4yr)
$52,570
Natl Median: $56,185
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,875
Earnings (4yr)
$80,522
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$156k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,117
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
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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
-$135k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$26,400
Earnings (5yr)
$52,784
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
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Homeland Security
BachCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,649
Natl Median: $70,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,277
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
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Median Debt
$23,213
Earnings (4yr)
$50,052
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
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Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$84,016
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$182k
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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
-$239k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,527
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$86,072
Natl Median: $88,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$185k
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Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$71,027
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,456
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
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Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$87,702
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$211k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,014
Natl Median: $62,582
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
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Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (4yr)
$53,907
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$29,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,578
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
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Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$125,175
Natl Median: $116,539
Lifetime Value Added
+$495k
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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
$19,835
Earnings (4yr)
$52,834
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,784
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
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Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,656
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
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Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$73,935
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$105k
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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
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,040
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
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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
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$48,986
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
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Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,339
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
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Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$44,457
Natl Median: $44,115
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
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Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $104,114
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)
$91,150
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$119k
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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
-$163k
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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
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$66,004
Natl Median: $74,139
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
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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
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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
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,602
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
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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
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,332
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,380
Natl Median: $66,523
Lifetime Value Added
-$215k
Try this program with your own numbers →
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
-$292k
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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
-$197k
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Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
MastCIP: 0111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$74,422
Natl Median: $70,814
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
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Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$75,178
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
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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
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,299
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$177k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,153
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
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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
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
$45,289
Earnings (4yr)
$119,874
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$185k
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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
$115,200
Earnings (4yr)
$135,133
Natl Median: $138,348
Lifetime Value Added
+$298k
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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.