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Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, IL 11,277 Undergrads 61.7% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$27,214
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,909
After Aid
Median Earnings
$57,808
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$12,909
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$57,808
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate61.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients45.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time87.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS72.9%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
70.5%
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
+$500k
+$103k
+$15k
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$453k
+$57k
-$31k
Full Cost$27k/yr
+$402k
+$5k
-$83k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
49
∞
Median Cost$13k/yr
Never
-67%
Full Cost$27k/yr
Never
-84%
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-54%
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-66%
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
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$15,342
Earnings (5yr)
$83,523
Lifetime Value Added
+$174k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,059
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Apparel and Textiles
BachCIP: 1909
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,009
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
BachCIP: 4004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,166
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$63,964
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$76,392
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$22,750
Earnings (5yr)
$62,503
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5110
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$69,250
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$23,812
Earnings (5yr)
$56,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (5yr)
$53,628
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$21,004
Earnings (5yr)
$85,811
Lifetime Value Added
+$191k
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
BachCIP: 5131
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$52,265
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$38,201
Lifetime Value Added
-$184k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$24,976
Earnings (5yr)
$69,275
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$86,449
Lifetime Value Added
+$196k
Engineering Technology, General
BachCIP: 1500
Median Debt
$27,250
Earnings (5yr)
$85,470
Lifetime Value Added
+$188k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$44,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$15,250
Earnings (5yr)
$79,501
Lifetime Value Added
+$144k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$41,109
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$40,188
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$25,294
Earnings (5yr)
$51,319
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs
BachCIP: 5111
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$54,266
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$22,333
Earnings (5yr)
$53,605
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$30,020
Earnings (5yr)
$45,830
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Human Services, General
BachCIP: 4400
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,762
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Industrial Engineering
BachCIP: 1435
Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (5yr)
$88,954
Lifetime Value Added
+$214k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$22,625
Earnings (5yr)
$47,283
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,679
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
BachCIP: 5213
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$65,538
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$68,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$23,068
Earnings (5yr)
$73,553
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$23,125
Earnings (5yr)
$86,692
Lifetime Value Added
+$198k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$27,787
Earnings (5yr)
$57,919
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$27,250
Earnings (5yr)
$31,511
Lifetime Value Added
-$241k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$48,605
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (5yr)
$60,494
Lifetime Value Added
-$699
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,375
Earnings (5yr)
$47,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$78,637
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$20,923
Earnings (5yr)
$53,528
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$49,637
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$21,029
Earnings (5yr)
$57,132
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$24,545
Earnings (5yr)
$48,018
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$53,340
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$94,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$370k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$32,950
Earnings (5yr)
$121,495
Lifetime Value Added
+$600k
Communication and Media Studies
MastCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$250k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$44,534
Earnings (5yr)
$65,635
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$111,770
Lifetime Value Added
+$517k
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
MastCIP: 5131
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,738
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
MastCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,768
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$28,097
Earnings (5yr)
$63,221
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
Educational/Instructional Media Design
MastCIP: 1305
Median Debt
$23,063
Earnings (5yr)
$75,761
Lifetime Value Added
+$207k
Engineering-Related Fields
MastCIP: 1515
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$66,077
Lifetime Value Added
+$159k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,767
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,055
Lifetime Value Added
-$220k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,521
Lifetime Value Added
+$119k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
MastCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$32,500
Earnings (5yr)
$58,476
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
Management Information Systems and Services
MastCIP: 5212
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$107,655
Lifetime Value Added
+$481k
Mechanical Engineering
MastCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$100,075
Lifetime Value Added
+$416k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$30,500
Earnings (5yr)
$79,318
Lifetime Value Added
+$238k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,208
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$44,065
Earnings (5yr)
$113,538
Lifetime Value Added
+$532k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$26,549
Earnings (5yr)
$60,809
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$50,098
Earnings (5yr)
$67,261
Lifetime Value Added
+$134k
Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$78,971
Lifetime Value Added
+$277k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$24,901
Earnings (5yr)
$65,360
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k
Doctoral Degrees
Curriculum and Instruction
DocCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$84,913
Lifetime Value Added
+$178k
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$134,549
Lifetime Value Added
+$500k
Psychology, General
DocCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$84,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$134k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (5yr)
$76,638
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
Professional Degrees
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$75,688
Earnings (5yr)
$74,619
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
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.