College ROI

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The University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa, AL 33,227 Undergrads 71.2% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$33,382
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$22,420
After Aid
Median Earnings
$70,439
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$22,420
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$70,439
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$59,221
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate71.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age21.1
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients18.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time93.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
76.6%
SAT Avg
1,285
SAT Reading
25th: 59061075th: 690
SAT Math
25th: 58061075th: 710
ACT Composite
25th: 242675th: 31

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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$617k
+$150k
+$133k
Median Cost$22k/yr
+$536k
+$70k
+$52k
Full Cost$33k/yr
+$497k
+$30k
+$13k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
30
∞
Median Cost$22k/yr
43
65%
Full Cost$33k/yr
56
11%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return115%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-23%
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
$22,190
Earnings (4yr)
$87,621
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$183k
Median Debt
$26,787
Earnings (4yr)
$91,999
Natl Median: $98,207
Lifetime Value Added
+$217k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,616
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$35,701
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$234k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,254
Natl Median: $57,640
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,406
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$83,580
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
+$140k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$23,905
Earnings (4yr)
$59,637
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$69,715
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$86,114
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$172k
Median Debt
$22,625
Earnings (4yr)
$100,857
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$284k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$87,685
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$184k
Median Debt
$24,459
Earnings (4yr)
$61,548
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,071
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Median Debt
$21,992
Earnings (4yr)
$115,980
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$399k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$76,460
Natl Median: $97,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$57,796
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,744
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,546
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Median Debt
$26,750
Earnings (5yr)
$27,525
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$310k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,787
Earnings (4yr)
$98,943
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$270k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$44,278
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
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
$22,477
Earnings (4yr)
$65,674
Natl Median: $53,262
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Median Debt
$22,497
Earnings (4yr)
$57,205
Natl Median: $48,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$85,020
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$164k
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$41,100
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$187k
Median Debt
$23,719
Earnings (4yr)
$57,002
Natl Median: $54,945
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (4yr)
$49,269
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,104
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,289
Natl Median: $68,245
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$20,568
Earnings (4yr)
$50,213
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Median Debt
$22,662
Earnings (4yr)
$53,180
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Median Debt
$24,125
Earnings (4yr)
$45,751
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$55,419
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$23,375
Earnings (4yr)
$55,043
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,375
Earnings (4yr)
$105,393
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$319k
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$79,811
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$77,451
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$77,899
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$109k
Median Debt
$24,015
Earnings (4yr)
$95,079
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$240k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,722
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,582
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,735
Earnings (4yr)
$56,945
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$23,519
Earnings (4yr)
$31,666
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$269k
Median Debt
$20,807
Earnings (4yr)
$52,619
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$237k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$61,617
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$49,900
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$51,588
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Median Debt
$24,889
Earnings (4yr)
$68,227
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
Median Debt
$23,875
Earnings (4yr)
$55,894
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$85,532
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$167k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,228
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$24,072
Earnings (4yr)
$49,561
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Median Debt
$25,473
Earnings (4yr)
$50,763
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Median Debt
$26,125
Earnings (4yr)
$49,007
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (4yr)
$53,940
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$92,319
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$116k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$67,164
Natl Median: $122,434
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,936
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$33,500
Earnings (4yr)
$112,515
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$308k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$74,017
Natl Median: $97,526
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,468
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$93,898
Natl Median: $95,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
Median Debt
$32,500
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$68,683
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,026
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$77,066
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,629
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$29,627
Earnings (4yr)
$64,929
Natl Median: $60,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,913
Natl Median: $66,523
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,357
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (4yr)
$67,892
Natl Median: $81,651
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
MastCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,034
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$45,195
Earnings (4yr)
$120,262
Natl Median: $101,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$376k
Median Debt
$28,937
Earnings (4yr)
$52,520
Natl Median: $56,301
Lifetime Value Added
-$224k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$112,179
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$305k
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$76,736
Natl Median: $79,106
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,563
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$407k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,125
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$29,740
Earnings (4yr)
$116,062
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$339k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,435
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$263k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,194
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$237k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (4yr)
$54,926
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$201k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,157
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$209k
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $114,810
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (4yr)
$56,415
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$187k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,487
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $158,084
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,110
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $141,187
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$74,963
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,931
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $154,538
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$73,102
Earnings (4yr)
$99,953
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,550
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,831
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $144,778
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: $130,845
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Materials Sciences
DocCIP: 4010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $144,084
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)
-
Natl Median: $131,070
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $59,592
Lifetime Value Added
-$412k
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)
$71,643
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
Median Debt
$35,680
Earnings (4yr)
$145,164
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$347k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,860
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)
-
Natl Median: $90,739
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
DocCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,993
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
DocCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $156,733
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,794
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,822
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (4yr)
$110,931
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k

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.