College ROI

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Seattle University

Seattle, WA 4,062 Undergrads 75.3% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$72,124
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$34,662
After Aid
Median Earnings
$79,426
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$34,662
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$79,426
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$75,272
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate75.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age21.6
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients22.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time97.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS81.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
76.9%
SAT Avg
1,307
SAT Reading
25th: 62060575th: 710
SAT Math
25th: 58062075th: 720
ACT Composite
25th: 232875th: 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
+$686k
+$219k
+$202k
Median Cost$35k/yr
+$561k
+$94k
+$77k
Full Cost$72k/yr
+$426k
-$41k
-$58k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
28
∞
Median Cost$35k/yr
42
62%
Full Cost$72k/yr
Never
-22%
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 Return49%

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-50%
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
$22,750
Earnings (4yr)
$97,466
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$214k
Median Debt
$24,702
Earnings (4yr)
$81,464
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
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
$22,417
Earnings (4yr)
$58,242
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$72,360
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$102,249
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$251k
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
$19,750
Earnings (4yr)
$81,559
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$88,308
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$145k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,599
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$21,530
Earnings (4yr)
$128,314
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$448k
Median Debt
$19,702
Earnings (4yr)
$74,018
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
Median Debt
$23,084
Earnings (4yr)
$53,117
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
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)
$74,691
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Median Debt
$20,465
Earnings (4yr)
$111,410
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$321k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$78,906
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
+$73k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,800
Earnings (4yr)
$62,385
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$99,791
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$232k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,739
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$347k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$371k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,201
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
-$1k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,590
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$64,098
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Median Debt
$23,416
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$72,518
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$22,281
Earnings (4yr)
$80,592
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
Median Debt
$22,072
Earnings (4yr)
$96,218
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$205k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$63,465
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
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
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$63,443
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,993
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
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)
$67,887
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Median Debt
$17,463
Earnings (4yr)
$61,021
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Median Debt
$23,593
Earnings (4yr)
$90,918
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$165k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,291
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Median Debt
$23,319
Earnings (4yr)
$57,093
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$56,265
Natl Median: $57,805
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,349
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$15,250
Earnings (5yr)
$54,308
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,156
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$82,592
Natl Median: $108,478
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
International Business
PB-CertCIP: 5211
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,613
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Administration
PB-CertCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,234
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$109,604
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$242k
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
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,353
Natl Median: $59,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$210k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,241
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$132,795
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$462k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$90,462
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Median Debt
$63,958
Earnings (4yr)
$93,491
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$185,607
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$918k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$89,830
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k
Median Debt
$39,556
Earnings (4yr)
$76,832
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Law
MastCIP: 2201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,341
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$167,280
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$760k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,382
Natl Median: $53,024
Lifetime Value Added
-$431k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$55,500
Earnings (4yr)
$61,415
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k
Median Debt
$50,683
Earnings (4yr)
$94,446
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$128k
Median Debt
$105,629
Earnings (4yr)
$129,955
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$437k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$40,666
Earnings (4yr)
$70,622
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,747
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$304k
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (4yr)
$79,675
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$1k
Median Debt
$33,325
Earnings (4yr)
$79,881
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
+$344
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,134
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
-$392k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,571
Natl Median: $61,300
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,363
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$44,537
Earnings (4yr)
$150,502
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
+$765k
Computer Science
Gr-CertCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$118,536
Natl Median: $125,742
Lifetime Value Added
+$465k
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
-$64k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $214,836
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$144,542
Earnings (4yr)
$105,471
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,347
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.