College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, AZ 22,903 Undergrads 58.8% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$33,423
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$17,265
After Aid
Median Earnings
$62,354
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$17,265
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$62,354
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$59,083
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate58.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)24.1
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients33.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time87.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS76.7%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
89.6%
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)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$548k
+$78k
+$61k
Median Cost$17k/yr
+$486k
+$15k
-$849
Full Cost$33k/yr
+$427k
-$43k
-$59k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
36
∞
Median Cost$17k/yr
Never
-1%
Full Cost$33k/yr
Never
-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 Return3%

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-56%

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)
-
Natl Median: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Behavioral Sciences
CertCIP: 3017
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,316
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biotechnology
CertCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,955
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,149
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k
Median Debt
$23,116
Earnings (4yr)
$72,971
Natl Median: $69,205
Lifetime Value Added
+$312k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,761
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$10,938
Earnings (4yr)
$47,223
Natl Median: $54,143
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,702
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,116
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$81,688
Natl Median: $53,418
Lifetime Value Added
+$397k
Forestry
CertCIP: 0305
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,054
Natl Median: $51,345
Lifetime Value Added
+$162k
Homeland Security
CertCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,995
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$12,700
Earnings (4yr)
$51,008
Natl Median: $40,962
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,907
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,496
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$67,306
Natl Median: $65,682
Lifetime Value Added
+$256k
Marketing
CertCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$69,605
Natl Median: $49,757
Lifetime Value Added
+$279k
Music
CertCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,318
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$78,057
Natl Median: $52,763
Lifetime Value Added
+$361k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,296
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,015
Natl Median: $34,631
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,570
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,689
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,329
Earnings (4yr)
$43,223
Natl Median: $44,424
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$22,600
Earnings (4yr)
$81,144
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$155k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$24,799
Earnings (4yr)
$39,597
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$182k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,333
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,446
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Median Debt
$18,687
Earnings (4yr)
$66,376
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$63,605
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$21,434
Earnings (4yr)
$60,630
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$18,638
Earnings (4yr)
$88,184
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$208k
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,957
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,384
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$21,671
Earnings (4yr)
$99,067
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$291k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$97,511
Natl Median: $78,929
Lifetime Value Added
+$279k
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$99,015
Natl Median: $95,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$291k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$17,081
Earnings (4yr)
$56,676
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,350
Natl Median: $40,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$201k
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$68,917
Natl Median: $68,061
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Median Debt
$15,990
Earnings (4yr)
$48,764
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$38,380
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$95,388
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$263k
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,915
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$78,955
Natl Median: $81,171
Lifetime Value Added
+$138k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,800
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$77,855
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$34,073
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$230k
Forestry
BachCIP: 0305
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,191
Natl Median: $58,784
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,898
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,402
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$17,388
Earnings (4yr)
$45,795
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,857
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,448
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,868
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,433
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Median Debt
$13,812
Earnings (4yr)
$54,276
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Median Debt
$18,205
Earnings (4yr)
$76,041
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$116k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$69,834
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,149
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$91,941
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$237k
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,491
Natl Median: $62,582
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Median Debt
$18,952
Earnings (4yr)
$49,080
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,792
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
Median Debt
$17,981
Earnings (4yr)
$48,321
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Median Debt
$17,375
Earnings (4yr)
$50,501
Natl Median: $50,983
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,568
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
-$186k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,571
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,448
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,834
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$16,000
Earnings (4yr)
$61,757
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Median Debt
$18,625
Earnings (4yr)
$55,863
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,233
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Median Debt
$17,433
Earnings (4yr)
$84,996
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$184k
Median Debt
$14,775
Earnings (4yr)
$57,004
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Median Debt
$21,340
Earnings (4yr)
$54,507
Natl Median: $68,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$19,922
Earnings (4yr)
$54,000
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$44,082
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Median Debt
$18,375
Earnings (4yr)
$53,619
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$61,250
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$113
Median Debt
$14,750
Earnings (4yr)
$50,738
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Median Debt
$16,875
Earnings (4yr)
$53,246
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
$10,938
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,845
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$84,710
Earnings (4yr)
$123,400
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$413k
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,283
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,142
Natl Median: $71,241
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
-$340k
Median Debt
$23,833
Earnings (4yr)
$86,375
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$90k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$48,869
Earnings (4yr)
$73,940
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$40,461
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$318k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$74,354
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminology
MastCIP: 4504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$29,250
Earnings (4yr)
$67,995
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,265
Natl Median: $50,850
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,629
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Forestry
MastCIP: 0305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,193
Natl Median: $67,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$310k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$45,696
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
-$264k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$385k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$295k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$117,110
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$359k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,638
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$33,695
Earnings (4yr)
$66,606
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$33,532
Earnings (4yr)
$60,735
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,897
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,404
Earnings (4yr)
$58,007
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,758
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$31,871
Earnings (4yr)
$66,646
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,168
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,959
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
Gr-CertCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,504
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,611
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$40,500
Earnings (4yr)
$80,727
Natl Median: $69,147
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,178
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,031
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$102,760
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Forestry
DocCIP: 0305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,046
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,908
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$90,167
Earnings (4yr)
$82,299
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k

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.