College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, IL 11,301 Undergrads 64.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$28,851
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,391
After Aid
Median Earnings
$64,583
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$13,391
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$64,583
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$57,808
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate64.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age21.9
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients46.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time88.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS72.9%

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
+$572k
+$105k
+$88k
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$524k
+$57k
+$39k
Full Cost$29k/yr
+$468k
+$1k
-$16k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
33
∞
Median Cost$13k/yr
44
82%
Full Cost$29k/yr
Never
-16%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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 Return68%

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-35%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$15,342
Earnings (4yr)
$83,573
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$185k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,890
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,636
Natl Median: $57,640
Lifetime Value Added
+$71k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,198
Natl Median: $60,997
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,086
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$73,176
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$22,750
Earnings (4yr)
$65,611
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$76,856
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$134k
Median Debt
$23,812
Earnings (4yr)
$55,109
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$49,653
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$21,004
Earnings (4yr)
$93,438
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$260k
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,221
Natl Median: $55,753
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$36,777
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$24,976
Earnings (4yr)
$66,760
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$93,962
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$264k
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
BachCIP: 1500
Median Debt
$27,250
Earnings (4yr)
$81,554
Natl Median: $80,526
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$47,981
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Median Debt
$15,250
Earnings (4yr)
$86,511
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$207k
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$44,202
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,738
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$40,188
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
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
-$31k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$22,333
Earnings (4yr)
$46,086
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,546
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Median Debt
$30,020
Earnings (4yr)
$49,147
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,514
Natl Median: $48,597
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (4yr)
$82,584
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$177k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$22,625
Earnings (4yr)
$50,658
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,697
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$71,040
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$76,373
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$130k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$23,068
Earnings (4yr)
$69,856
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Median Debt
$23,125
Earnings (4yr)
$86,999
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$211k
Median Debt
$27,787
Earnings (4yr)
$55,586
Natl Median: $52,119
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$27,250
Earnings (4yr)
$40,398
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$161k
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$54,666
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
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
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,039
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,375
Earnings (4yr)
$49,669
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$78,637
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$136k
Median Debt
$20,923
Earnings (4yr)
$51,151
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,023
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Median Debt
$21,029
Earnings (4yr)
$53,148
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$25,294
Earnings (4yr)
$54,207
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Median Debt
$24,545
Earnings (4yr)
$50,385
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$53,672
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$101,106
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$225k
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
$32,950
Earnings (4yr)
$119,872
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$389k
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
-$467k
Median Debt
$44,534
Earnings (4yr)
$63,768
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Median Debt
$24,300
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$111,770
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$299k
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
-$79k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,708
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
-$302k
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$30,041
Earnings (4yr)
$59,110
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Median Debt
$28,097
Earnings (4yr)
$72,883
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Median Debt
$23,063
Earnings (4yr)
$79,429
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
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
-$58k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,510
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$227k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,301
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
-$200k
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
$32,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,678
Natl Median: $58,524
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $119,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$107,655
Natl Median: $106,092
Lifetime Value Added
+$264k
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
+$280k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,850
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$311k
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
$30,500
Earnings (4yr)
$82,907
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,989
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Median Debt
$44,065
Earnings (4yr)
$120,765
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$397k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,500
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
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
$26,549
Earnings (4yr)
$62,066
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,493
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$50,098
Earnings (4yr)
$59,834
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$78,971
Natl Median: $114,810
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,901
Earnings (4yr)
$65,145
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k

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
+$175k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$134,549
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$282k
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
-$60k
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (4yr)
$80,885
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
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
$75,688
Earnings (4yr)
$78,459
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k

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.