College ROI

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Nova Southeastern University

Fort Lauderdale, FL 7,240 Undergrads 64.1% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$56,692
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$30,371
After Aid
Median Earnings
$81,582
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$30,371
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$81,582
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Warning: This school's reported earnings inflated significantly (+38%) when the Dept of Education excluded non-graduates from the dataset. Take caution when comparing.
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$59,209
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate64.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age24.4
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients36.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time94.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS78.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
73.2%
SAT Avg
1,157
SAT Reading
25th: 53059075th: 650
SAT Math
25th: 50058575th: 650
ACT Composite
25th: 192575th: 28

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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$702k
+$235k
+$218k
Median Cost$30k/yr
+$593k
+$126k
+$109k
Full Cost$57k/yr
+$498k
+$31k
+$14k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
28
∞
Median Cost$30k/yr
38
99%
Full Cost$57k/yr
58
7%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return105%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-32%
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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,094
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,365
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,874
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Median Debt
$28,750
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,559
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,375
Earnings (4yr)
$83,250
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,138
Earnings (4yr)
$57,249
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Median Debt
$25,475
Earnings (4yr)
$67,851
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,679
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$218k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,972
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$45,287
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
-$180k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$66,302
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$82,727
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,597
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,568
Natl Median: $53,266
Lifetime Value Added
-$233k
Median Debt
$30,014
Earnings (5yr)
$52,599
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,400
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,353
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Non-Professional Legal Studies
BachCIP: 2200
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,450
Natl Median: $61,959
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$122,809
Natl Median: $62,172
Lifetime Value Added
+$422k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,563
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Median Debt
$26,250
Earnings (4yr)
$88,004
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$55,487
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,726
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$48,816
Earnings (4yr)
$96,451
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$153k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $235,700
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$192,865
Earnings (4yr)
$221,571
Natl Median: $162,386
Lifetime Value Added
+$1228k
Median Debt
$137,125
Earnings (4yr)
$129,749
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$443k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,271
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$55,500
Earnings (4yr)
$86,083
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Median Debt
$71,750
Earnings (4yr)
$64,896
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Median Debt
$92,250
Earnings (4yr)
$67,111
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Median Debt
$51,250
Earnings (4yr)
$103,720
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$217k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$142,461
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$553k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$51,250
Earnings (4yr)
$61,713
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,180
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$194k
Dispute Resolution
MastCIP: 3028
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,725
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$68,145
Earnings (4yr)
$62,655
Natl Median: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,348
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$60,596
Earnings (4yr)
$70,069
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
MastCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,613
Natl Median: $72,563
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,523
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Gerontology
MastCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$61,685
Earnings (4yr)
$85,889
Natl Median: $78,149
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Homeland Security
MastCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$78,570
Natl Median: $96,660
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Median Debt
$51,250
Earnings (4yr)
$61,760
Natl Median: $58,524
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (4yr)
$67,513
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Median Debt
$59,500
Earnings (4yr)
$105,187
Natl Median: $112,705
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$99,323
Natl Median: $97,121
Lifetime Value Added
+$161k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,627
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$54,664
Earnings (4yr)
$91,014
Natl Median: $101,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marine Sciences
MastCIP: 3032
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,840
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$80,624
Earnings (4yr)
$127,664
Natl Median: $101,441
Lifetime Value Added
+$425k
Median Debt
$79,244
Earnings (4yr)
$55,344
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$212k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $129,214
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$50,652
Earnings (4yr)
$60,151
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (4yr)
$71,298
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$51,097
Earnings (4yr)
$98,338
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k
Real Estate
MastCIP: 5215
Median Debt
$52,792
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $135,104
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$70,148
Earnings (4yr)
$113,592
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$303k
Median Debt
$91,554
Earnings (4yr)
$73,781
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,216
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$60,470
Earnings (4yr)
$62,202
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Median Debt
$125,828
Earnings (4yr)
$58,972
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$178k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$362k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,880
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
$47,500
Earnings (4yr)
$93,144
Natl Median: $114,810
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,713
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
Median Debt
$73,886
Earnings (4yr)
$64,174
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,848
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
-$377k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
$238,601
Earnings (5yr)
$246,841
Natl Median: $207,164
Lifetime Value Added
+$1604k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $117,834
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,086
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Dispute Resolution
Gr-CertCIP: 3028
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,947
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
Gr-CertCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,448
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,077
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,166
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,275
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $118,893
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,888
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,457
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
Gr-CertCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,837
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $113,566
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$99,428
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Median Debt
$112,750
Earnings (4yr)
$96,694
Natl Median: $88,343
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$63,005
Natl Median: $154,538
Lifetime Value Added
-$272k
Computer Science
DocCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $178,476
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $172,649
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$107,358
Earnings (4yr)
$109,172
Natl Median: $86,427
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Dentistry
DocCIP: 5104
Median Debt
$406,377
Earnings (4yr)
$156,942
Natl Median: $166,240
Lifetime Value Added
+$405k
Dispute Resolution
DocCIP: 3028
Median Debt
$143,978
Earnings (4yr)
$66,910
Natl Median: $67,092
Lifetime Value Added
-$261k
Education, General
DocCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$142,473
Earnings (4yr)
$81,299
Natl Median: $87,373
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$93,920
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,039
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$79,423
Earnings (4yr)
$114,954
Natl Median: $101,669
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$178,444
Natl Median: $126,925
Lifetime Value Added
+$537k
Medicine
DocCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$336,670
Earnings (4yr)
$130,217
Natl Median: $118,504
Lifetime Value Added
+$208k
Median Debt
$219,112
Earnings (4yr)
$62,583
Natl Median: $77,066
Lifetime Value Added
-$294k
Optometry
DocCIP: 5117
Median Debt
$205,772
Earnings (4yr)
$130,197
Natl Median: $133,744
Lifetime Value Added
+$208k
Median Debt
$210,049
Earnings (4yr)
$131,167
Natl Median: $136,696
Lifetime Value Added
+$215k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$133,990
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$217k
Median Debt
$142,062
Earnings (4yr)
$80,533
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,151
Natl Median: $85,168
Lifetime Value Added
-$353k

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$162,455
Earnings (4yr)
$96,470
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,426
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,683
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,636
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.