College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Stanford University

Stanford, CA 7,554 Undergrads 96.1% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$92,892
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,307
After Aid
Median Earnings
$114,967
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$12,307
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$114,967
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$125,340
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate96.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)19.7
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients21.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time100.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS87.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
3.6%
SAT Avg
1,553
SAT Reading
25th: 74076075th: 780
SAT Math
25th: 77079075th: 800
ACT Composite
25th: 343575th: 35

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
+$944k
+$474k
+$457k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$899k
+$429k
+$413k
Full Cost$93k/yr
+$609k
+$139k
+$123k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
25
∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
26
933%
Full Cost$93k/yr
43
37%
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 Return158%

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-20%

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

Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$97,071
Natl Median: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
+$324k
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Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$91,568
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$238k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$91,744
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$282k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Cognitive Science
BachCIP: 3025
Median Debt
$8,420
Earnings (4yr)
$131,650
Natl Median: $81,496
Lifetime Value Added
+$556k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$214,907
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$1177k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,642
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$112,700
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$413k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$173,254
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$842k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$139,695
Natl Median: $89,619
Lifetime Value Added
+$596k
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Engineering, Other
BachCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$115,206
Natl Median: $93,989
Lifetime Value Added
+$432k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$82,036
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
+$179k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,171
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,519
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,925
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$210k
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Human Biology
BachCIP: 3027
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$81,529
Natl Median: $64,732
Lifetime Value Added
+$175k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$91,075
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
+$248k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $91,449
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$117,072
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$446k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
$10,917
Earnings (5yr)
$92,243
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$243k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$88,953
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$219k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,721
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$107,375
Natl Median: $67,452
Lifetime Value Added
+$372k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$147,375
Natl Median: $122,434
Lifetime Value Added
+$629k
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Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$116,125
Natl Median: $68,936
Lifetime Value Added
+$359k
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Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$261,816
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$1586k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$99,517
Natl Median: $115,468
Lifetime Value Added
+$249k
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Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$49,079
Earnings (4yr)
$112,118
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$324k
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Cognitive Science
MastCIP: 3025
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,800
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$81,702
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k
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Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$33,500
Earnings (4yr)
$255,667
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$1537k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,871
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$88,065
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
+$114k
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Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$181,705
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$925k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$206,093
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
+$1133k
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Engineering, Other
MastCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $129,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,486
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Genetics
MastCIP: 2608
Median Debt
$135,831
Earnings (4yr)
$112,403
Natl Median: $92,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$327k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$78,114
Natl Median: $95,627
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,282
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$64,725
Earnings (4yr)
$167,632
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$804k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,441
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$122,038
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
+$453k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
MastCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,272
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: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $119,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,660
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
DocCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,473
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,683
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,096
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,848
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $113,566
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $141,187
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$170,898
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
+$571k
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Civil Engineering
DocCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,931
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
DocCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $178,476
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,704
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,231
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
DocCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $135,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
DocCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$125,390
Natl Median: $87,373
Lifetime Value Added
+$238k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$231,917
Natl Median: $157,305
Lifetime Value Added
+$1009k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $171,574
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, Other
DocCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $140,028
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,831
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,325
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,718
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Genetics
DocCIP: 2608
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $102,123
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$120,024
Natl Median: $92,039
Lifetime Value Added
+$199k
Try this program with your own numbers →
History
DocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,550
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,845
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
DocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$218,808
Natl Median: $131,070
Lifetime Value Added
+$918k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $162,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,435
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,592
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $87,076
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
DocCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,449
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: $93,640
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,908
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,164
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,812
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
DocCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
DocCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $156,733
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$152,747
Earnings (4yr)
$259,944
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$1199k
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Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$142,993
Earnings (4yr)
$114,132
Natl Median: $112,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$155k
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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.