College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX 7,277 Undergrads 82.1% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$88,892
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$39,816
After Aid
Median Earnings
$92,480
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$39,816
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$92,480
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$90,037
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate82.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)20.5
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients15.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS84.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
63.3%
SAT Avg
1,428
SAT Reading
25th: 67070075th: 740
SAT Math
25th: 67072075th: 750
ACT Composite
25th: 303275th: 34

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
+$776k
+$306k
+$289k
Median Cost$40k/yr
+$633k
+$162k
+$146k
Full Cost$89k/yr
+$456k
-$14k
-$30k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
26
∞
Median Cost$40k/yr
36
102%
Full Cost$89k/yr
Never
-10%
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 Return71%

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-45%

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
$18,406
Earnings (4yr)
$103,675
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$245k
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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
$18,010
Earnings (4yr)
$78,466
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
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Median Debt
$18,125
Earnings (4yr)
$106,799
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$269k
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Median Debt
$15,750
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,407
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 (2yr)
$73,737
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Cognitive Science
BachCIP: 3025
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,496
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$74,407
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$126,590
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$419k
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Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (2yr)
$42,728
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$221k
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Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$35,844
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$296k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,642
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$91,701
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
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Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$54,713
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$146,126
Natl Median: $89,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$544k
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Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (2yr)
$37,748
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$266k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,171
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$339k
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Median Debt
$17,250
Earnings (4yr)
$133,852
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$473k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,335
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$196k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,245
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$80,388
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
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International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$90,685
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
+$133k
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Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$62,551
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$97,170
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$181k
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Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$88,627
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$111,773
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$307k
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Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$90,649
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,612
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$380k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Non-Professional Legal Studies
BachCIP: 2200
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,959
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Operations Research
BachCIP: 1437
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$76,460
Natl Median: $122,531
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
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Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$66,651
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
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Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (5yr)
$90,459
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$72,136
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
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Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (5yr)
$66,527
Natl Median: $73,721
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
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Median Debt
$17,375
Earnings (4yr)
$89,330
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
+$136k
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Real Estate
BachCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,821
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$93,769
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,060
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$290k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (4yr)
$62,838
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
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Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$29,110
Earnings (4yr)
$112,268
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$275k
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Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
$39,500
Earnings (4yr)
$144,761
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
+$556k
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Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
MastCIP: 5010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,685
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$78,054
Natl Median: $71,241
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
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Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$56,794
Earnings (4yr)
$188,716
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$934k
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Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$180,875
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
+$836k
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Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$172,353
Natl Median: $113,439
Lifetime Value Added
+$794k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
-$336k
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Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (4yr)
$73,179
Natl Median: $65,348
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
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Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
MastCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,068
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$140,860
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
+$499k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,215
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, Other
MastCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $129,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$133,137
Natl Median: $97,366
Lifetime Value Added
+$456k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,629
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,486
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$155,769
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
+$651k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$98,988
Natl Median: $57,810
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,149
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$56,716
Earnings (4yr)
$173,816
Natl Median: $112,705
Lifetime Value Added
+$806k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$84,447
Natl Median: $101,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,368
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
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Median Debt
$87,346
Earnings (4yr)
$140,799
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$522k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$141,296
Natl Median: $122,873
Lifetime Value Added
+$526k
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Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$124,730
Natl Median: $79,106
Lifetime Value Added
+$383k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$61,700
Earnings (4yr)
$62,718
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$161k
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Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,670
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$334k
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Operations Research
MastCIP: 1437
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$90,412
Natl Median: $161,561
Lifetime Value Added
+$116k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$84,703
Natl Median: $70,267
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,125
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Real Estate
MastCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$147,770
Natl Median: $135,104
Lifetime Value Added
+$582k
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Religious Music and Worship
MastCIP: 3905
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,264
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,193
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
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Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,897
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Systems Engineering
MastCIP: 1427
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$163,769
Natl Median: $144,565
Lifetime Value Added
+$720k
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Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$66,941
Natl Median: $114,810
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$48,249
Earnings (4yr)
$55,347
Natl Median: $61,300
Lifetime Value Added
-$230k
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Graduate Certificates

Graphic Communications
Gr-CertCIP: 1003
Median Debt
$118,077
Earnings (5yr)
$95,540
Natl Median: $95,540
Lifetime Value Added
+$226k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,226
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
Gr-CertCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,504
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,095
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Anthropology
DocCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,473
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: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $167,302
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
DocCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $135,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, Other
DocCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,635
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$49,625
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $171,574
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,831
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,718
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,039
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
DocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,550
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,534
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,070
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,153
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,164
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,982
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$144,500
Earnings (4yr)
$153,614
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$346k
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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.