College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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The University of Texas at Dallas

Richardson, TX 21,751 Undergrads 71.8% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$29,807
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$18,267
After Aid
Median Earnings
$76,497
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$18,267
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$76,497
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$68,227
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate71.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age22.7
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients29.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time85.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS78.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
65.1%
SAT Avg
1,286
SAT Reading
25th: 580-75th: 690
SAT Math
25th: 580-75th: 720
ACT Composite
25th: 24-75th: 32

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
+$664k
+$197k
+$179k
Median Cost$18k/yr
+$598k
+$131k
+$113k
Full Cost$30k/yr
+$556k
+$89k
+$72k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
29
∞
Median Cost$18k/yr
35
173%
Full Cost$30k/yr
41
67%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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 Return221%

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 Return10%
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
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$82,629
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (4yr)
$50,432
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$58,540
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Median Debt
$18,625
Earnings (4yr)
$87,420
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$197k
Median Debt
$18,992
Earnings (4yr)
$66,880
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$20,532
Earnings (4yr)
$63,472
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Cognitive Science
BachCIP: 3025
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,496
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$16,660
Earnings (4yr)
$49,834
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$103,603
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$320k
Median Debt
$21,375
Earnings (4yr)
$112,666
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$389k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$19,844
Earnings (4yr)
$52,244
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (4yr)
$47,186
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$75,479
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
Median Debt
$24,125
Earnings (4yr)
$104,448
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$327k
Median Debt
$18,400
Earnings (4yr)
$86,484
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$190k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,840
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Median Debt
$17,241
Earnings (4yr)
$60,602
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$65,617
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$19,125
Earnings (4yr)
$61,321
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$66,719
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$69,370
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Median Debt
$20,205
Earnings (4yr)
$54,985
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Median Debt
$17,048
Earnings (4yr)
$85,717
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$184k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$16,969
Earnings (4yr)
$73,732
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$17,545
Earnings (4yr)
$69,383
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Median Debt
$20,689
Earnings (4yr)
$90,102
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$217k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,864
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$59,498
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Median Debt
$19,711
Earnings (4yr)
$65,869
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$16,107
Earnings (4yr)
$51,459
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,467
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (4yr)
$66,209
Natl Median: $73,721
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$53,828
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Median Debt
$17,250
Earnings (4yr)
$50,248
Natl Median: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,551
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$37,825
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
-$200k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$22,120
Earnings (4yr)
$105,357
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$254k
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
$30,095
Earnings (4yr)
$132,383
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
+$488k
Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,936
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,371
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$96,230
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
+$174k
Biotechnology
MastCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,682
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$49,818
Earnings (4yr)
$140,481
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$558k
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
Cognitive Science
MastCIP: 3025
Median Debt
$36,670
Earnings (4yr)
$71,364
Natl Median: $71,800
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Median Debt
$34,275
Earnings (4yr)
$67,338
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Median Debt
$22,374
Earnings (4yr)
$130,924
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$476k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$141,848
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
+$546k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$64,990
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Criminology
MastCIP: 4504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,069
Natl Median: $70,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$142,523
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$576k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,366
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$100,360
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
+$210k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,901
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Median Debt
$35,395
Earnings (4yr)
$83,425
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$32,797
Earnings (4yr)
$122,669
Natl Median: $112,705
Lifetime Value Added
+$404k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,495
Earnings (4yr)
$62,062
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Median Debt
$33,305
Earnings (4yr)
$124,603
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$421k
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$23,791
Earnings (4yr)
$95,624
Natl Median: $79,106
Lifetime Value Added
+$168k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,282
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: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,122
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,427
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$39,943
Earnings (4yr)
$58,520
Natl Median: $63,216
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,443
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Systems Engineering
MastCIP: 1427
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$144,307
Natl Median: $144,565
Lifetime Value Added
+$591k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,460
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,196
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,275
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,959
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$28,722
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,117
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,146
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,226
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,052
Earnings (4yr)
$136,888
Natl Median: $122,843
Lifetime Value Added
+$653k
Public Administration
Gr-CertCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,022
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Policy Analysis
Gr-CertCIP: 4405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,781
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Systems Engineering
Gr-CertCIP: 1427
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $148,730
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,848
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,578
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)
$97,265
Natl Median: $88,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Criminology
DocCIP: 4504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,153
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
DocCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $135,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $157,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,469
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,039
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $109,516
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,534
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $193,221
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,845
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,176
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 (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,464
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $119,220
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,410
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,489
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Other Programs

Biology, General
DegCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,021
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,452
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

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.