College ROI

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Seattle University

Seattle, WA 4,062 Undergrads 73.6% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$75,128
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$34,324
After Aid
Median Earnings
$81,778
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$34,324
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$81,778
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$84,728
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate73.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)21.6
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients27.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time97.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS83.7%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
76.9%
SAT Avg
1,307
SAT Reading
25th: 62066075th: 710
SAT Math
25th: 58065075th: 720
ACT Composite
25th: 232775th: 30

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
+$696k
+$226k
+$209k
Median Cost$34k/yr
+$572k
+$102k
+$86k
Full Cost$75k/yr
+$425k
-$45k
-$61k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
28
∞
Median Cost$34k/yr
40
69%
Full Cost$75k/yr
Never
-23%
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 Return47%

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-52%

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
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$97,466
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
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Median Debt
$22,750
Earnings (4yr)
$81,464
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
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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
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
BachCIP: 5010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,240
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,242
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
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Median Debt
$18,938
Earnings (4yr)
$72,360
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$102,249
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$254k
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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
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$81,559
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$88,308
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
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Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (4yr)
$57,599
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$128,314
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$452k
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Median Debt
$22,287
Earnings (4yr)
$74,018
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
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Median Debt
$20,416
Earnings (4yr)
$53,117
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$97,123
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$201k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$111,410
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$324k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$78,906
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
+$76k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$62,385
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
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Median Debt
$15,250
Earnings (4yr)
$99,791
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$235k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,739
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$346k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$371k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,201
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
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International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,590
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
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Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$64,098
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$72,518
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$80,592
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
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Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$96,218
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$208k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,465
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
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Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physical Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,944
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,166
Earnings (4yr)
$63,443
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,993
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,630
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$77,669
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
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Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$61,021
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
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Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$90,918
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$168k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,291
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,093
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
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Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (4yr)
$56,265
Natl Median: $57,805
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
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Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,349
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,139
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$75,745
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,165
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International Business
PB-CertCIP: 5211
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,613
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$64,493
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
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Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
MastCIP: 5010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,353
Natl Median: $59,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$210k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,241
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$47,833
Earnings (4yr)
$132,795
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$463k
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Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$61,888
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
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Median Debt
$74,100
Earnings (4yr)
$93,491
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$51,459
Earnings (4yr)
$185,607
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$918k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$89,830
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,832
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$55,666
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$40,705
Earnings (4yr)
$167,280
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$760k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,382
Natl Median: $53,024
Lifetime Value Added
-$433k
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Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$61,415
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$94,446
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$129,955
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$439k
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Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$37,085
Earnings (4yr)
$70,622
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$72,488
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
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Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (4yr)
$79,675
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
+$103
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Median Debt
$39,249
Earnings (4yr)
$79,881
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,134
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
-$394k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,384
Natl Median: $61,300
Lifetime Value Added
-$309k
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Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,363
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$150,502
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
+$766k
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Computer Science
Gr-CertCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$118,536
Natl Median: $125,742
Lifetime Value Added
+$467k
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Economics
Gr-CertCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $118,588
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,288
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: $122,843
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
Gr-CertCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,837
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Administration
Gr-CertCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,022
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,169
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
Gr-CertCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,709
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$91,744
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
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Median Debt
$175,469
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$131,096
Earnings (4yr)
$105,471
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
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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.