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Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ 23,041 Undergrads 60.0% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$29,495
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$14,922
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,384
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$14,922
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$54,384
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate60.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients30.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time87.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS76.2%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
91.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
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
+$473k
+$76k
-$12k
Median Cost$15k/yr
+$419k
+$22k
-$66k
Full Cost$29k/yr
+$366k
-$30k
-$118k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$15k/yr
Never
-122%
Full Cost$29k/yr
Never
-111%
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 Return-102%
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-80%
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
Business Administration, Management and Operations
CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,679
Lifetime Value Added
+$246k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
CertCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$19,114
Earnings (5yr)
$51,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
English Language and Literature, General
CertCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$18,587
Earnings (5yr)
$48,767
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
Finance and Financial Management Services
CertCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$91,894
Lifetime Value Added
+$477k
Forestry
CertCIP: 0305
Median Debt
$22,397
Earnings (5yr)
$59,770
Lifetime Value Added
+$168k
Hospitality Administration/Management
CertCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$17,231
Earnings (5yr)
$53,659
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
Management Information Systems and Services
CertCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$21,625
Earnings (5yr)
$76,164
Lifetime Value Added
+$327k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
CertCIP: 0909
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,137
Lifetime Value Added
+$270k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
CertCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$17,682
Earnings (5yr)
$50,146
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management
CertCIP: 0306
Median Debt
$20,368
Earnings (5yr)
$48,382
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$80,353
Lifetime Value Added
+$143k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$21,819
Earnings (5yr)
$39,836
Lifetime Value Added
-$178k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,467
Earnings (5yr)
$56,435
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (5yr)
$65,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Business/Managerial Economics
BachCIP: 5206
Median Debt
$22,683
Earnings (5yr)
$59,028
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$20,051
Earnings (5yr)
$66,140
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$25,188
Earnings (5yr)
$85,036
Lifetime Value Added
+$178k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (5yr)
$50,666
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (5yr)
$117,909
Lifetime Value Added
+$423k
Construction Management
BachCIP: 5220
Median Debt
$22,589
Earnings (5yr)
$98,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$275k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$53,788
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis
BachCIP: 3026
Median Debt
$21,125
Earnings (5yr)
$51,589
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$20,567
Earnings (5yr)
$60,161
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$23,333
Earnings (5yr)
$54,011
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$21,966
Earnings (5yr)
$49,036
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$107,634
Lifetime Value Added
+$347k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (5yr)
$47,247
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
BachCIP: 1414
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$70,453
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$19,819
Earnings (5yr)
$45,594
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$20,375
Earnings (5yr)
$73,322
Lifetime Value Added
+$90k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$18,625
Earnings (2yr)
$19,227
Lifetime Value Added
-$345k
Forestry
BachCIP: 0305
Median Debt
$22,698
Earnings (5yr)
$61,641
Lifetime Value Added
+$1k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,982
Lifetime Value Added
+$73k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$21,251
Earnings (5yr)
$51,211
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$18,013
Earnings (5yr)
$62,062
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$20,847
Earnings (5yr)
$39,733
Lifetime Value Added
-$178k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (5yr)
$52,298
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$19,468
Earnings (5yr)
$55,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$18,062
Earnings (5yr)
$48,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$14,307
Earnings (5yr)
$54,948
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$81,271
Lifetime Value Added
+$150k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$20,469
Earnings (5yr)
$69,885
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (5yr)
$62,616
Lifetime Value Added
+$9k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$23,413
Earnings (5yr)
$89,027
Lifetime Value Added
+$208k
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
BachCIP: 2605
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$71,307
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General
BachCIP: 3000
Median Debt
$25,349
Earnings (5yr)
$47,828
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$26,128
Lifetime Value Added
-$295k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$21,125
Earnings (5yr)
$48,869
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies
BachCIP: 3101
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (5yr)
$51,918
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Physical Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 4099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$177k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$55,683
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,590
Earnings (5yr)
$49,697
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$20,151
Earnings (5yr)
$58,640
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$54,715
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$25,125
Earnings (5yr)
$47,705
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$18,692
Earnings (5yr)
$85,036
Lifetime Value Added
+$178k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$51,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Science Technologies/Technicians, Other
BachCIP: 4199
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$58,141
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,353
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$52,287
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$20,057
Earnings (5yr)
$50,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$16,639
Earnings (5yr)
$48,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$51,542
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Master's Degrees
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
MastCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$72,425
Earnings (5yr)
$132,317
Lifetime Value Added
+$688k
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$147k
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education
MastCIP: 1302
Median Debt
$30,000
Earnings (5yr)
$62,443
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$30,500
Earnings (5yr)
$91,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$341k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$37,263
Earnings (2yr)
$59,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$90k
Communication and Media Studies
MastCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,842
Lifetime Value Added
-$671
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$41,255
Earnings (5yr)
$70,162
Lifetime Value Added
+$155k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$30,953
Earnings (5yr)
$68,669
Lifetime Value Added
+$143k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,404
Lifetime Value Added
+$105k
Forestry
MastCIP: 0305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,339
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
MastCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$45,696
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$162k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$42,539
Earnings (5yr)
$126,392
Lifetime Value Added
+$637k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
MastCIP: 2313
Median Debt
$30,366
Earnings (5yr)
$52,822
Lifetime Value Added
-$859
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$34,363
Earnings (5yr)
$52,011
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$33,352
Earnings (5yr)
$58,371
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$30,659
Earnings (5yr)
$53,748
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$23,209
Earnings (5yr)
$59,459
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Graduate Certificates
Special Education and Teaching
Gr-CertCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$23,645
Earnings (2yr)
$55,547
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
Doctoral Degrees
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$38,000
Earnings (5yr)
$98,960
Lifetime Value Added
+$235k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$87,849
Earnings (5yr)
$81,237
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
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.