College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Edinburg, TX 28,666 Undergrads 60.1% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$16,830
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$4,831
After Aid
Median Earnings
$53,888
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$4,831
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$53,888
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$49,620
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate60.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age22.7
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients64.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time74.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS59.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
94.2%
SAT Avg
985
SAT Reading
25th: 460-75th: 560
SAT Math
25th: 420-75th: 530
ACT Composite
25th: 15-75th: 21

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
+$486k
+$19k
+$2k
Median Cost$5k/yr
+$469k
+$2k
-$16k
Full Cost$17k/yr
+$425k
-$42k
-$59k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
62
∞
Median Cost$5k/yr
Never
-91%
Full Cost$17k/yr
Never
-97%
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 Return-66%

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-55%
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
$12,449
Earnings (4yr)
$53,420
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$9,605
Earnings (4yr)
$34,505
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$12,051
Earnings (4yr)
$47,954
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Median Debt
$14,500
Earnings (4yr)
$49,595
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$10,837
Earnings (4yr)
$57,100
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$71,848
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
Median Debt
$14,469
Earnings (4yr)
$63,426
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Median Debt
$11,540
Earnings (4yr)
$39,940
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Median Debt
$13,670
Earnings (4yr)
$59,624
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $104,864
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$80,857
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$195k
Median Debt
$15,902
Earnings (4yr)
$77,097
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$166k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$71,629
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$114k
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,979
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,933
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
-$237k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,426
Natl Median: $55,753
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Median Debt
$11,002
Earnings (4yr)
$38,865
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,369
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Median Debt
$17,892
Earnings (4yr)
$85,971
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$234k
Engineering Physics
BachCIP: 1412
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,774
Natl Median: $89,154
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
BachCIP: 1500
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $80,526
Lifetime Value Added
-$212k
Median Debt
$15,750
Earnings (4yr)
$45,746
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$13,918
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,156
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$35,115
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$175k
Median Debt
$14,205
Earnings (4yr)
$59,794
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,620
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Median Debt
$19,677
Earnings (4yr)
$43,699
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$10,147
Earnings (4yr)
$47,431
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,060
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,147
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$14,500
Earnings (4yr)
$45,859
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,645
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Median Debt
$15,125
Earnings (4yr)
$87,991
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$250k
Median Debt
$13,849
Earnings (4yr)
$56,493
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$15,175
Earnings (4yr)
$59,218
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Non-Professional Legal Studies
BachCIP: 2200
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,959
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$33,457
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$9,563
Earnings (4yr)
$44,895
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$11,604
Earnings (4yr)
$40,140
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$11,208
Earnings (4yr)
$88,067
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$250k
Median Debt
$14,500
Earnings (4yr)
$44,201
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Median Debt
$11,945
Earnings (4yr)
$42,224
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$59,440
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$15,126
Earnings (4yr)
$50,073
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,807
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$14,297
Earnings (4yr)
$53,769
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,259
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,165
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
PB-CertCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,779
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,018
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,845
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,783
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,215
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,764
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
PB-CertCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,232
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,346
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
PB-CertCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,439
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$17,091
Earnings (4yr)
$68,815
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Median Debt
$73,496
Earnings (4yr)
$134,068
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$527k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,167
Natl Median: $71,241
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (4yr)
$61,507
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$79,747
Natl Median: $93,386
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Median Debt
$21,006
Earnings (4yr)
$87,822
Natl Median: $125,988
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$29,158
Earnings (4yr)
$72,427
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,537
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
Median Debt
$25,578
Earnings (4yr)
$75,924
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,818
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$64,700
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Median Debt
$17,819
Earnings (4yr)
$66,977
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$67,562
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,899
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities
MastCIP: 5132
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,487
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,418
Earnings (4yr)
$69,643
Natl Median: $78,149
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Homeland Security
MastCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,660
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$49,683
Natl Median: $112,705
Lifetime Value Added
-$200k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $122,873
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marine Sciences
MastCIP: 3032
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,840
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,810
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$103,803
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$265k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,356
Natl Median: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (4yr)
$68,057
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,302
Earnings (4yr)
$128,123
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$476k
Median Debt
$35,487
Earnings (4yr)
$67,397
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,216
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,856
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,588
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$20,015
Earnings (4yr)
$64,161
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,899
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$36,491
Earnings (4yr)
$65,025
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,897
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,824
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$51,607
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$180k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,147
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,238
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $149,621
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,031
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,308
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.