College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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The University of Montana

Missoula, MT 7,488 Undergrads 46.2% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$26,512
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$21,302
After Aid
Median Earnings
$51,946
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$21,302
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$51,946
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$48,823
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate46.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average starting age (2015-17)23.3
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients32.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time85.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS63.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
95.9%
SAT Avg
1,190
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: 232475th: 28

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
+$463k
-$7k
-$23k
Median Cost$21k/yr
+$387k
-$83k
-$100k
Full Cost$27k/yr
+$368k
-$102k
-$118k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$21k/yr
Never
-130%
Full Cost$27k/yr
Never
-124%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.⚠️ 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

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-123%

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-83%

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: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,988
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
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Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (4yr)
$64,057
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$145k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,378
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,587
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,568
Natl Median: $54,246
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,726
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,605
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,792
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,698
Natl Median: $69,017
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,314
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
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Median Debt
$16,096
Earnings (4yr)
$39,103
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
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Marketing
AssocCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$22,578
Natl Median: $44,264
Lifetime Value Added
-$261k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,230
Natl Median: $56,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
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Median Debt
$29,250
Earnings (4yr)
$77,388
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$266k
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Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$19,687
Earnings (4yr)
$61,408
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
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Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$40,550
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
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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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,891
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$24,218
Earnings (4yr)
$37,771
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$212k
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Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,892
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,300
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
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Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$43,929
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$91,943
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$222k
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Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,423
Earnings (5yr)
$38,431
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$213k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,642
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$39,711
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$202k
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Median Debt
$20,753
Earnings (4yr)
$41,634
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$36,169
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$226k
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Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$29,606
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$284k
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Forestry
BachCIP: 0305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,526
Natl Median: $58,784
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$272k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$30,577
Earnings (4yr)
$46,408
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
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Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$14,600
Earnings (4yr)
$46,267
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,067
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,149
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$75,241
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,582
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$23,998
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$272k
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Median Debt
$20,481
Earnings (4yr)
$43,813
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,426
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
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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
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,172
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,341
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,380
Earnings (4yr)
$46,192
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$10,613
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$452k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,169
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$24,894
Earnings (4yr)
$46,459
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$51,708
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,771
Natl Median: $52,822
Lifetime Value Added
-$262k
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Median Debt
$23,961
Earnings (4yr)
$43,347
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,540
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
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Median Debt
$21,166
Earnings (4yr)
$43,286
Natl Median: $45,338
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
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Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$93,752
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$147k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,208
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
-$359k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,545
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,371
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,994
Earnings (4yr)
$91,218
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,837
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
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
$72,953
Earnings (4yr)
$57,297
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$178k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,672
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$251k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,978
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,539
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
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
Forestry
MastCIP: 0305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,524
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
MastCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,219
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
MastCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,034
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,355
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,046
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,803
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
MastCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,578
Earnings (4yr)
$65,365
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
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Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$46,741
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$437k
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Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$53,201
Earnings (4yr)
$60,362
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
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Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$33,238
Earnings (4yr)
$52,978
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$219k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,087
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$276k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$66,730
Natl Median: $59,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,299
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,852
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

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
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,031
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,173
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Forestry
DocCIP: 0305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,046
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: $86,341
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $87,076
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,943
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$76,460
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,306
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$90,402
Earnings (4yr)
$86,640
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
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Median Debt
$63,104
Earnings (4yr)
$141,791
Natl Median: $138,348
Lifetime Value Added
+$326k
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Median Debt
$117,112
Earnings (4yr)
$82,240
Natl Median: $81,641
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
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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.