College ROI

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Northern Michigan University

Marquette, MI 6,556 Undergrads 56.3% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$27,841
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$14,085
After Aid
Median Earnings
$52,624
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$14,085
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$52,624
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$47,107
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate56.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age20.9
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients28.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time87.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS64.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
84.0%
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
+$475k
+$9k
-$9k
Median Cost$14k/yr
+$425k
-$42k
-$60k
Full Cost$28k/yr
+$375k
-$92k
-$109k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$14k/yr
Never
-118%
Full Cost$28k/yr
Never
-109%
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 Return-98%

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-77%
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

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$9,833
Earnings (4yr)
$25,486
Natl Median: $26,307
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
Median Debt
$5,500
Earnings (4yr)
$78,273
Natl Median: $53,078
Lifetime Value Added
+$363k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,315
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,148
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,199
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,665
Natl Median: $56,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,723
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$181k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,637
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,378
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,587
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Natl Median: $49,927
Lifetime Value Added
-$273k
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$62,505
Natl Median: $57,472
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,195
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,142
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,895
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,792
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,925
Natl Median: $55,148
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Fine and Studio Arts
AssocCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $31,650
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,400
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,933
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$200k
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,203
Natl Median: $69,017
Lifetime Value Added
+$176k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,099
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$11,816
Earnings (4yr)
$39,957
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,424
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$23,443
Earnings (4yr)
$62,901
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,482
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Behavioral Sciences
BachCIP: 3017
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,325
Natl Median: $48,673
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$24,624
Earnings (4yr)
$43,698
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Median Debt
$22,418
Earnings (4yr)
$49,202
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Median Debt
$27,364
Earnings (4yr)
$67,522
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
Median Debt
$26,662
Earnings (4yr)
$47,875
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Median Debt
$21,472
Earnings (4yr)
$57,165
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$90,337
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$234k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
BachCIP: 1510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$88,881
Natl Median: $93,843
Lifetime Value Added
+$223k
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$91,682
Natl Median: $95,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$244k
Median Debt
$22,304
Earnings (4yr)
$59,390
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$17,481
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$358k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,179
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,599
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$32,503
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$237k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,236
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$34,869
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$217k
Median Debt
$20,651
Earnings (4yr)
$63,730
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Median Debt
$25,709
Earnings (4yr)
$36,228
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$199k
Median Debt
$26,625
Earnings (2yr)
$28,019
Natl Median: $47,243
Lifetime Value Added
-$261k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,353
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$276k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$34,318
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$216k
Median Debt
$30,250
Earnings (4yr)
$45,797
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,803
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$287k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,266
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$68,157
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,640
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$82,326
Natl Median: $82,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$173k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,658
Natl Median: $52,119
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,582
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,566
Earnings (4yr)
$50,300
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$40,825
Natl Median: $50,983
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k
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
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,990
Natl Median: $62,172
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Median Debt
$16,199
Earnings (4yr)
$50,520
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$43,349
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,585
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$77,670
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,495
Natl Median: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Median Debt
$23,287
Earnings (4yr)
$39,982
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$53,611
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,836
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$22,280
Earnings (2yr)
$22,766
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$309k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,856
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$22,375
Earnings (4yr)
$47,613
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Median Debt
$29,750
Earnings (4yr)
$45,008
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Median Debt
$26,214
Earnings (4yr)
$46,002
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$38,797
Natl Median: $44,055
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Legal Support Services
PB-CertCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,073
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,272
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,886
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,119
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$260k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,709
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,334
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$377k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,230
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

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.