College ROI

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Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia, PA 3,755 Undergrads 73.2% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$64,197
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$28,928
After Aid
Median Earnings
$87,195
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$28,928
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$87,195
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$77,449
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate73.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age24.2
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients35.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time88.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS82.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
81.0%
SAT Avg
1,243
SAT Reading
25th: 58061075th: 660
SAT Math
25th: 58061575th: 670
ACT Composite
25th: 252875th: 30

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
+$745k
+$278k
+$261k
Median Cost$29k/yr
+$641k
+$174k
+$157k
Full Cost$64k/yr
+$514k
+$47k
+$30k

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
27
∞
Median Cost$29k/yr
34
151%
Full Cost$64k/yr
53
13%
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 Return116%

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-29%
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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,895
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
Median Debt
$27,562
Earnings (4yr)
$56,009
Natl Median: $43,854
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,558
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$106,225
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$302k
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (4yr)
$68,760
Natl Median: $70,074
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,377
Natl Median: $67,425
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biopsychology
BachCIP: 3010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,825
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,875
Earnings (4yr)
$74,992
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,750
Earnings (4yr)
$56,119
Natl Median: $50,523
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$83,402
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$128k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$40,461
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$202k
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
BachCIP: 1510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,843
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,731
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,661
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Median Debt
$27,899
Earnings (4yr)
$55,383
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,245
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,900
Earnings (4yr)
$71,608
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Homeland Security
BachCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,193
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$68,753
Natl Median: $60,369
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,387
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$79,083
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Non-Professional Legal Studies
BachCIP: 2200
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,959
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,371
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$99,839
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$253k
Median Debt
$25,750
Earnings (4yr)
$57,815
Natl Median: $59,631
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,060
Natl Median: $57,887
Lifetime Value Added
-$250k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,837
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,156
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
PB-CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,697
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$116,750
Earnings (4yr)
$133,096
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$475k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $77,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$404k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,139
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$53,701
Earnings (4yr)
$92,407
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
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
$81,740
Earnings (4yr)
$56,450
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$199k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,083
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
MastCIP: 1510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,304
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$73,016
Natl Median: $70,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,215
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$55,062
Earnings (4yr)
$98,597
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$175k
Homeland Security
MastCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,660
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,993
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,574
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$216k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,750
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$90,156
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,587
Natl Median: $75,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$205k
Median Debt
$27,333
Earnings (4yr)
$119,929
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$361k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$77,121
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,575
Natl Median: $120,246
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$107,725
Natl Median: $114,810
Lifetime Value Added
+$236k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $87,776
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,392
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,509
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Homeland Security
Gr-CertCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,606
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
Gr-CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,684
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

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
Genetics
DocCIP: 2608
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $102,123
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$144,279
Natl Median: $136,696
Lifetime Value Added
+$317k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$94,350
Earnings (4yr)
$85,394
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k

Professional Degrees

Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$181,998
Earnings (4yr)
$96,329
Natl Median: $112,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k

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.