College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, IL 11,301 Undergrads 64.4% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$29,642
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$14,505
After Aid
Median Earnings
$64,925
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$14,505
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$64,925
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$61,351
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate64.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)21.9
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients49.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time88.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS76.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
69.8%
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
+$568k
+$98k
+$82k
Median Cost$15k/yr
+$516k
+$46k
+$29k
Full Cost$30k/yr
+$461k
-$9k
-$25k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
34
∞
Median Cost$15k/yr
47
56%
Full Cost$30k/yr
Never
-24%
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 Return51%

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-41%

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 →

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$83,573
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$183k
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Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,890
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,636
Natl Median: $57,640
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,198
Natl Median: $60,997
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
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Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,086
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
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Median Debt
$29,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$73,176
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$65,611
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
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Median Debt
$19,344
Earnings (4yr)
$76,856
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$132k
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Median Debt
$21,236
Earnings (4yr)
$55,109
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
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Median Debt
$16,220
Earnings (4yr)
$49,653
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$16,093
Earnings (4yr)
$93,438
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$258k
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Median Debt
$29,575
Earnings (4yr)
$55,221
Natl Median: $55,753
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
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Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$36,777
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$196k
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Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (4yr)
$66,760
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$54k
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Median Debt
$19,658
Earnings (4yr)
$93,962
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$262k
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Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
BachCIP: 1500
Median Debt
$20,490
Earnings (4yr)
$81,554
Natl Median: $80,526
Lifetime Value Added
+$168k
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Median Debt
$19,306
Earnings (4yr)
$47,981
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
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Median Debt
$15,085
Earnings (4yr)
$86,511
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$205k
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Median Debt
$19,375
Earnings (4yr)
$44,202
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,738
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$78,192
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
+$130k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,778
Natl Median: $61,911
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$19,281
Earnings (4yr)
$46,086
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,546
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
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Median Debt
$22,635
Earnings (4yr)
$49,147
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,514
Natl Median: $48,597
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
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Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$82,584
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$176k
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Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,658
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
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Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$57,697
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
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Median Debt
$16,000
Earnings (4yr)
$71,040
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k
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Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$18,669
Earnings (4yr)
$76,373
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$128k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$69,856
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
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Median Debt
$16,731
Earnings (4yr)
$86,999
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$209k
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Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,586
Natl Median: $52,119
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$22,498
Earnings (4yr)
$40,398
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
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Median Debt
$16,798
Earnings (4yr)
$54,666
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
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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
Median Debt
$19,899
Earnings (4yr)
$54,039
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,669
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
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Median Debt
$22,700
Earnings (5yr)
$82,816
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$165k
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Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$51,151
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$24,585
Earnings (4yr)
$58,023
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
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Median Debt
$20,909
Earnings (4yr)
$53,148
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$21,375
Earnings (4yr)
$54,207
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
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Median Debt
$19,100
Earnings (4yr)
$50,385
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
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Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$53,672
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
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Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$101,106
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$224k
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Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$36,973
Earnings (4yr)
$119,872
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$388k
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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: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$472k
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Median Debt
$45,197
Earnings (4yr)
$63,768
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$126,519
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$424k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,367
Natl Median: $62,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,708
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
-$306k
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Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,110
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
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Median Debt
$24,750
Earnings (4yr)
$72,883
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,429
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$66,077
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,510
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$230k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,301
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,925
Earnings (4yr)
$56,678
Natl Median: $58,524
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $119,184
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)
$107,338
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$279k
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Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,850
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$315k
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Philosophy
MastCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
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 (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$34,463
Earnings (4yr)
$82,907
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
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Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$43,000
Earnings (4yr)
$74,989
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
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Median Debt
$29,958
Earnings (4yr)
$120,765
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$396k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,500
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,129
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,121
Earnings (4yr)
$62,066
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,493
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
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Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (4yr)
$59,834
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
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Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$78,971
Natl Median: $114,810
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,858
Earnings (4yr)
$65,145
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
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Doctoral Degrees

Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
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: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,343
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$117,352
Natl Median: $83,031
Lifetime Value Added
+$171k
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Median Debt
$31,900
Earnings (5yr)
$152,617
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$408k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,809
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,831
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,469
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,039
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,822
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
DocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,550
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
DocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,153
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,908
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$85,719
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
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Median Debt
$70,014
Earnings (4yr)
$80,885
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,794
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,168
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$83,496
Earnings (4yr)
$78,459
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
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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.