College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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The Catholic University of America

Washington, DC 3,154 Undergrads 78.2% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$77,564
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$32,543
After Aid
Median Earnings
$80,300
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$32,543
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$80,300
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$81,308
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate78.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)20.1
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients23.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time94.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS86.4%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
82.8%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
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
+$685k
+$215k
+$198k
Median Cost$33k/yr
+$568k
+$97k
+$81k
Full Cost$78k/yr
+$406k
-$65k
-$81k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
28
∞
Median Cost$33k/yr
41
69%
Full Cost$78k/yr
Never
-29%
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 Return35%

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-55%

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 →

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,422
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$114,909
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$357k
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Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,838
Natl Median: $66,914
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
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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
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$274k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$81,519
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
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Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$87,907
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
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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)
$93,821
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$196k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$73,073
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$91,962
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$182k
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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)
$71,015
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$274k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$98,856
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$235k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$24,949
Earnings (4yr)
$52,980
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$88,565
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$143k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$85,029
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$90,355
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$46,123
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
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Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,378
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
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Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$73,917
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$25,804
Earnings (4yr)
$52,846
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
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Median Debt
$26,755
Earnings (4yr)
$96,949
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$220k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,638
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,421
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$361k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,185
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$40,467
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$215k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,835
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biotechnology
MastCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,682
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$103,834
Natl Median: $125,988
Lifetime Value Added
+$215k
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Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
-$228k
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Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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)
$103,198
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
+$192k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,991
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Non-Professional Legal Studies
MastCIP: 2200
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,153
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$114,102
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$305k
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Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,008
Natl Median: $61,300
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,318
Natl Median: $54,640
Lifetime Value Added
-$255k
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Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,812
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: $66,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $157,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,831
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: $131,070
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,328
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,341
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,592
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: $90,908
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$69,338
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$230k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
DocCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$82,608
Natl Median: $81,301
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
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Professional Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$111,378
Natl Median: $214,836
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $102,323
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$131,353
Earnings (4yr)
$112,809
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k
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Median Debt
$28,837
Earnings (4yr)
$76,685
Natl Median: $62,261
Lifetime Value Added
-$196k
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Social Work
ProfCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$57,254
Earnings (4yr)
$68,031
Natl Median: $64,950
Lifetime Value Added
-$261k
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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.