College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Oakland University

Rochester Hills, MI 12,351 Undergrads 62.5% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$25,449
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$11,815
After Aid
Median Earnings
$68,517
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$11,815
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$68,517
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$63,565
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate62.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)22.0
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients36.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time82.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
87.8%
SAT Avg
1,120
SAT Reading
25th: 54057075th: 640
SAT Math
25th: 49055075th: 590
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
+$596k
+$126k
+$109k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$553k
+$83k
+$67k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$504k
+$34k
+$18k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
32
∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
38
157%
Full Cost$25k/yr
53
20%
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 Return130%

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-17%

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
$21,099
Earnings (4yr)
$82,699
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$186k
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Median Debt
$20,661
Earnings (4yr)
$63,925
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
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Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,628
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
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Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,998
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,375
Earnings (4yr)
$55,991
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
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Median Debt
$19,506
Earnings (4yr)
$84,052
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$196k
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Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$68,496
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,697
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,427
Earnings (4yr)
$70,486
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
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Median Debt
$20,103
Earnings (4yr)
$55,662
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
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Median Debt
$22,013
Earnings (4yr)
$90,737
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$247k
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Median Debt
$25,184
Earnings (4yr)
$95,843
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$286k
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Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$60,027
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
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Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,421
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
-$286k
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Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$47,432
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
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Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$39,442
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,642
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,874
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$103k
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Median Debt
$24,687
Earnings (4yr)
$99,967
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$318k
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Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$48,101
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$43,186
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
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Median Debt
$18,999
Earnings (4yr)
$79,127
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$159k
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Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$44,270
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,767
Natl Median: $68,245
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
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Median Debt
$23,138
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,737
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$48,990
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
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Homeland Security
BachCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,858
Natl Median: $70,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
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Median Debt
$22,721
Earnings (4yr)
$70,347
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$102,222
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$335k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,019
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$253k
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Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,680
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
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Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$63,534
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$88,497
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$87,119
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$220k
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Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$69,448
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$85k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,531
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
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Median Debt
$20,833
Earnings (4yr)
$97,444
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$299k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$25,203
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$293k
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Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$59,922
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$9k
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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
$19,250
Earnings (4yr)
$51,129
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,771
Earnings (4yr)
$45,141
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$85,266
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$206k
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Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,981
Earnings (4yr)
$81,667
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$178k
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Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$45,250
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
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Median Debt
$17,456
Earnings (4yr)
$41,443
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,805
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,754
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,959
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$18,375
Earnings (4yr)
$47,873
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
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Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$48,396
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,424
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$96,676
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$190k
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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
$37,384
Earnings (4yr)
$122,437
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$415k
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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: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$128,911
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
+$449k
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Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,348
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$33,200
Earnings (4yr)
$55,861
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$128,958
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$471k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$132,052
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
+$498k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$97,644
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
+$182k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $119,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$130,141
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$482k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $140,634
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$56,619
Earnings (4yr)
$65,301
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
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Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
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: $67,681
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,238
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
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Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$30,396
Earnings (4yr)
$68,517
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
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Median Debt
$39,921
Earnings (4yr)
$117,829
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$375k
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Median Debt
$39,192
Earnings (4yr)
$67,300
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,682
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$224k
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Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$51,308
Earnings (4yr)
$55,836
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
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Systems Engineering
MastCIP: 1427
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $144,565
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$39,700
Earnings (4yr)
$57,431
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,911
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
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Graduate Certificates

Biology, General
Gr-CertCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,581
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$118,285
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,852
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,147
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,729
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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: $154,538
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$52,547
Earnings (4yr)
$99,496
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $157,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,070
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$109,285
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$108,396
Earnings (4yr)
$84,462
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,794
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $162,438
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,822
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,168
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$199,924
Earnings (4yr)
$116,041
Natl Median: $112,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$171k
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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.