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The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL 32,323 Undergrads 70.7% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$32,024
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$22,150
After Aid
Median Earnings
$59,221
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$22,150
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$59,221
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate70.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients18.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time92.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.9%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
75.8%
SAT Avg
1,287
SAT Reading
25th: 59061075th: 700
SAT Math
25th: 58061075th: 700
ACT Composite
25th: 242675th: 31
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
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
+$511k
+$114k
+$26k
Median Cost$22k/yr
+$431k
+$35k
-$53k
Full Cost$32k/yr
+$396k
-$893
-$89k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
44
∞
Median Cost$22k/yr
Never
-67%
Full Cost$32k/yr
Never
-77%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year 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 Return-44%
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-67%
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 with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$22,190
Earnings (5yr)
$79,435
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
BachCIP: 1402
Median Debt
$26,787
Earnings (5yr)
$93,809
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,065
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$38,674
Lifetime Value Added
-$213k
Apparel and Textiles
BachCIP: 1909
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$52,091
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$83,580
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$23,905
Earnings (5yr)
$61,478
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$69,113
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
Business/Managerial Economics
BachCIP: 5206
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$103,502
Lifetime Value Added
+$290k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$22,625
Earnings (5yr)
$97,080
Lifetime Value Added
+$242k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$86,784
Lifetime Value Added
+$165k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$24,459
Earnings (5yr)
$52,949
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$54,812
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$21,992
Earnings (5yr)
$102,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$279k
Construction Engineering
BachCIP: 1433
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$76,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$123k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$55,350
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$57,905
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
BachCIP: 5131
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,057
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$26,750
Earnings (5yr)
$27,525
Lifetime Value Added
-$309k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$23,787
Earnings (5yr)
$108,377
Lifetime Value Added
+$326k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$44,593
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies
BachCIP: 1904
Median Debt
$22,477
Earnings (5yr)
$58,969
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1901
Median Debt
$22,497
Earnings (5yr)
$48,766
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$84,758
Lifetime Value Added
+$150k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$45,258
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (5yr)
$57,002
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,104
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 5199
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$20,568
Earnings (5yr)
$56,524
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$22,662
Earnings (5yr)
$52,250
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$24,125
Earnings (5yr)
$44,281
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$58,536
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$23,375
Earnings (5yr)
$56,575
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$21,375
Earnings (5yr)
$110,434
Lifetime Value Added
+$342k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
BachCIP: 5213
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$79,720
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$80,393
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$69,002
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$24,015
Earnings (5yr)
$91,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$203k
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General
BachCIP: 3000
Median Debt
$26,735
Earnings (5yr)
$52,664
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$23,519
Earnings (2yr)
$21,052
Lifetime Value Added
-$354k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$20,807
Earnings (5yr)
$66,481
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$236k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$61,049
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$47,796
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$24,889
Earnings (5yr)
$64,089
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$23,875
Earnings (5yr)
$47,815
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$80,311
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,228
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$24,072
Earnings (5yr)
$50,275
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$25,473
Earnings (5yr)
$50,092
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$26,125
Earnings (5yr)
$48,985
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (5yr)
$53,220
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$92,319
Lifetime Value Added
+$333k
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
MastCIP: 1402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$67,164
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$33,500
Earnings (5yr)
$114,582
Lifetime Value Added
+$524k
Business/Managerial Economics
MastCIP: 5206
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$74,017
Lifetime Value Added
+$214k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$93,898
Lifetime Value Added
+$346k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$64,679
Lifetime Value Added
+$94k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
MastCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,208
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$70,633
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1901
Median Debt
$29,627
Earnings (5yr)
$61,399
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
MastCIP: 5199
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (5yr)
$60,395
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies
MastCIP: 2202
Median Debt
$45,195
Earnings (5yr)
$119,652
Lifetime Value Added
+$567k
Library Science and Administration
MastCIP: 2501
Median Debt
$28,937
Earnings (5yr)
$52,284
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
MastCIP: 5213
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$126,862
Lifetime Value Added
+$628k
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$61,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,563
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$29,740
Earnings (5yr)
$108,815
Lifetime Value Added
+$474k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,435
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
MastCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,771
Lifetime Value Added
-$209k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (5yr)
$53,526
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,157
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (5yr)
$59,815
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$34,420
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
Doctoral Degrees
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$74,963
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$73,102
Earnings (5yr)
$99,694
Lifetime Value Added
+$214k
Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$195k
Psychology, General
DocCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$71,643
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$35,680
Earnings (5yr)
$140,861
Lifetime Value Added
+$512k
Professional Degrees
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (5yr)
$100,203
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, 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 degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.