College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX 42,100 Undergrads 84.7% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$29,842
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$19,678
After Aid
Median Earnings
$75,121
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$19,678
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$75,121
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate84.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients25.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time94.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS83.2%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
29.1%
SAT Avg
1,380
SAT Reading
25th: 62067575th: 730
SAT Math
25th: 61069075th: 760
ACT Composite
25th: 273075th: 33

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
+$631k
+$234k
+$146k
Median Cost$20k/yr
+$560k
+$163k
+$75k
Full Cost$30k/yr
+$523k
+$127k
+$39k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
30
Median Cost$20k/yr
39
107%
Full Cost$30k/yr
47
36%
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 Return164%

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-7%
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
$19,462
Earnings (5yr)
$95,733
Lifetime Value Added
+$241k
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
BachCIP: 1402
Median Debt
$22,125
Earnings (5yr)
$100,587
Lifetime Value Added
+$277k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$67,271
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$19,809
Earnings (5yr)
$43,067
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Apparel and Textiles
BachCIP: 1909
Median Debt
$21,749
Earnings (5yr)
$59,549
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Architectural Engineering
BachCIP: 1404
Median Debt
$25,136
Earnings (5yr)
$100,699
Lifetime Value Added
+$278k
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$69,182
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (5yr)
$52,619
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Astronomy and Astrophysics
BachCIP: 4002
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,848
Lifetime Value Added
-$201k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$18,642
Earnings (5yr)
$73,667
Lifetime Value Added
+$76k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,412
Earnings (5yr)
$65,785
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
BachCIP: 1405
Median Debt
$21,071
Earnings (5yr)
$91,099
Lifetime Value Added
+$206k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$95,412
Lifetime Value Added
+$238k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$76,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$132k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$19,672
Earnings (5yr)
$110,742
Lifetime Value Added
+$353k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$17,794
Earnings (5yr)
$66,779
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$19,875
Earnings (5yr)
$93,173
Lifetime Value Added
+$222k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$62,663
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$132,436
Lifetime Value Added
+$514k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,896
Lifetime Value Added
-$291k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$88,050
Lifetime Value Added
+$183k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$25,711
Earnings (2yr)
$45,128
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1603
Median Debt
$21,856
Earnings (5yr)
$57,712
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$97,244
Lifetime Value Added
+$252k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$20,480
Earnings (5yr)
$123,101
Lifetime Value Added
+$445k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$54,944
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
$24,353
Earnings (5yr)
$55,202
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$116,432
Lifetime Value Added
+$395k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$21,875
Earnings (5yr)
$45,932
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1905
Median Debt
$19,940
Earnings (5yr)
$64,426
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$69,390
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$16,993
Earnings (5yr)
$61,340
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$20,730
Earnings (5yr)
$67,127
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$18,625
Earnings (5yr)
$56,276
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$62,473
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
International/Global Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (5yr)
$74,259
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$17,250
Earnings (5yr)
$61,070
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$18,625
Earnings (5yr)
$65,567
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
$21,696
Earnings (5yr)
$54,698
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (5yr)
$112,047
Lifetime Value Added
+$363k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$19,625
Earnings (5yr)
$88,998
Lifetime Value Added
+$190k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$86,814
Lifetime Value Added
+$174k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (5yr)
$104,021
Lifetime Value Added
+$303k
Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1611
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,600
Lifetime Value Added
-$212k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$20,294
Earnings (5yr)
$56,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$24,625
Earnings (5yr)
$52,699
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
BachCIP: 2615
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (2yr)
$32,925
Lifetime Value Added
-$236k
Petroleum Engineering
BachCIP: 1425
Median Debt
$17,239
Earnings (5yr)
$121,692
Lifetime Value Added
+$434k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$55,022
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$92,183
Lifetime Value Added
+$214k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$70,835
Lifetime Value Added
+$54k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (5yr)
$55,701
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$67,931
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$20,402
Earnings (5yr)
$79,337
Lifetime Value Added
+$118k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$55,238
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$19,361
Earnings (5yr)
$82,838
Lifetime Value Added
+$144k
Religion/Religious Studies
BachCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,208
Lifetime Value Added
-$198k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
$21,323
Earnings (5yr)
$61,896
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$18,947
Earnings (5yr)
$62,697
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$19,125
Earnings (5yr)
$53,239
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$60,618
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Visual and Performing Arts, General
BachCIP: 5001
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (5yr)
$43,173
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k

Master's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$111,580
Lifetime Value Added
+$502k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$69,004
Earnings (5yr)
$74,944
Lifetime Value Added
+$188k
Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$74,111
Lifetime Value Added
+$181k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$91,092
Earnings (5yr)
$183,281
Lifetime Value Added
+$1111k
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning
MastCIP: 0403
Median Debt
$34,800
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$37,194
Earnings (5yr)
$110,994
Lifetime Value Added
+$497k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$55,242
Earnings (5yr)
$67,344
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$37,415
Earnings (5yr)
$73,681
Lifetime Value Added
+$177k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$109,763
Lifetime Value Added
+$544k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$73k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
MastCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,170
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$43,085
Earnings (5yr)
$98,715
Lifetime Value Added
+$392k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$28,886
Earnings (5yr)
$72,217
Lifetime Value Added
+$164k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
MastCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$174,177
Lifetime Value Added
+$1034k
Engineering, Other
MastCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$164,241
Lifetime Value Added
+$949k
Finance and Financial Management Services
MastCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$134,215
Lifetime Value Added
+$695k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
MastCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$81,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$289k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$71,971
Lifetime Value Added
+$162k
Information Science/Studies
MastCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$33,825
Earnings (5yr)
$67,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$123k
International Relations and National Security Studies
MastCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$91,960
Lifetime Value Added
+$334k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
MastCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$86,129
Lifetime Value Added
+$329k
Library Science and Administration
MastCIP: 2501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,958
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
MastCIP: 5213
Median Debt
$53,416
Earnings (5yr)
$152,332
Lifetime Value Added
+$849k
Mechanical Engineering
MastCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$76,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$241k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
MastCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$84,653
Lifetime Value Added
+$316k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$40,666
Earnings (5yr)
$40,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Public Policy Analysis
MastCIP: 4405
Median Debt
$40,156
Earnings (5yr)
$84,462
Lifetime Value Added
+$270k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
MastCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$47,657
Earnings (5yr)
$82,246
Lifetime Value Added
+$251k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
MastCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$52,607
Earnings (5yr)
$59,339
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$59,051
Earnings (5yr)
$103,615
Lifetime Value Added
+$434k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
MastCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$263k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$37,719
Earnings (5yr)
$60,572
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$23,912
Earnings (5yr)
$65,215
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$60,947
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k

Doctoral Degrees

Architecture
DocCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$76,188
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
Area Studies
DocCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$135,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$483k
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning
DocCIP: 0403
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$76,157
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Civil Engineering
DocCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$110,992
Lifetime Value Added
+$305k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
DocCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$34,533
Earnings (5yr)
$92,600
Lifetime Value Added
+$171k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
DocCIP: 5102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$73,966
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
Curriculum and Instruction
DocCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$68,859
Earnings (5yr)
$81,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$53,827
Earnings (5yr)
$92,438
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
DocCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$110,878
Lifetime Value Added
+$354k
English Language and Literature, General
DocCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,797
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
DocCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$67,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
History
DocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,962
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
DocCIP: 1601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Mechanical Engineering
DocCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$90,412
Lifetime Value Added
+$196k
Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$42,016
Lifetime Value Added
-$213k
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$89,305
Lifetime Value Added
+$187k
Political Science and Government
DocCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Psychology, General
DocCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$95,306
Lifetime Value Added
+$191k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
DocCIP: 0909
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$91,668
Lifetime Value Added
+$165k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
DocCIP: 0907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$67,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
DocCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$93,319
Lifetime Value Added
+$177k
Sociology
DocCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$64,990
Lifetime Value Added
-$1k
Special Education and Teaching
DocCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$74,707
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$159,411
Lifetime Value Added
+$654k
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
ProfCIP: 5120
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$146,858
Lifetime Value Added
+$564k

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.