Back to Colleges
Towson University
Towson, MD 16,400 Undergrads 73.6% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$26,621
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,791
After Aid
Median Earnings
$64,390
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$16,791
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$64,390
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate73.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients33.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time88.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS80.5%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
82.8%
SAT Avg
1,166
SAT Reading
25th: 54057075th: 650
SAT Math
25th: 51056075th: 620
ACT Composite
25th: 192475th: 28
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
+$551k
+$154k
+$66k
Median Cost$17k/yr
+$490k
+$94k
+$6k
Full Cost$27k/yr
+$455k
+$59k
-$29k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
35
∞
Median Cost$17k/yr
59
10%
Full Cost$27k/yr
Never
-31%
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 Return41%
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-40%
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
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$82,358
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,096
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1002
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,548
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$19,950
Earnings (5yr)
$90,110
Lifetime Value Added
+$209k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$65,900
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$17,250
Earnings (5yr)
$78,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$21,187
Earnings (5yr)
$78,982
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$17,989
Earnings (5yr)
$63,882
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$21,180
Earnings (5yr)
$66,236
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$92,993
Lifetime Value Added
+$231k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$17,625
Earnings (5yr)
$110,595
Lifetime Value Added
+$362k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (2yr)
$21,964
Lifetime Value Added
-$326k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (5yr)
$34,983
Lifetime Value Added
-$226k
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
BachCIP: 2613
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,041
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$15,698
Earnings (5yr)
$71,874
Lifetime Value Added
+$73k
Education, Other
BachCIP: 1399
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (5yr)
$58,310
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$19,392
Earnings (5yr)
$54,336
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
$18,618
Earnings (5yr)
$59,315
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (5yr)
$44,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,017
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (5yr)
$65,854
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$60,108
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 5199
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,058
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
BachCIP: 5100
Median Debt
$20,841
Earnings (5yr)
$75,217
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$18,327
Earnings (5yr)
$53,930
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$17,250
Earnings (5yr)
$52,549
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Human Services, General
BachCIP: 4400
Median Debt
$20,482
Earnings (5yr)
$52,612
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (5yr)
$86,490
Lifetime Value Added
+$182k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$21,824
Earnings (5yr)
$62,673
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,579
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$80,195
Lifetime Value Added
+$135k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,047
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$18,801
Earnings (5yr)
$41,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$60,755
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$17,375
Earnings (5yr)
$64,337
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (5yr)
$53,068
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$45,536
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$20,464
Earnings (5yr)
$85,718
Lifetime Value Added
+$176k
Security Science and Technology
BachCIP: 4304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,322
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Social Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 4599
Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (5yr)
$64,123
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$17,089
Earnings (5yr)
$57,712
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (5yr)
$55,353
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$56,996
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$96,775
Lifetime Value Added
+$381k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
MastCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$68,887
Earnings (5yr)
$149,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$826k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$99,373
Lifetime Value Added
+$403k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$36,799
Earnings (5yr)
$68,516
Lifetime Value Added
+$138k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$122,926
Lifetime Value Added
+$605k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$86,867
Lifetime Value Added
+$341k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (5yr)
$60,622
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
Educational/Instructional Media Design
MastCIP: 1305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$73,681
Lifetime Value Added
+$182k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Lifetime Value Added
+$70k
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
MastCIP: 5199
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$78,945
Lifetime Value Added
+$228k
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$29,074
Earnings (5yr)
$91,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$334k
Information Science/Studies
MastCIP: 1104
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$109,618
Lifetime Value Added
+$491k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
MastCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$43,798
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$35,468
Earnings (5yr)
$69,866
Lifetime Value Added
+$149k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$103,756
Lifetime Value Added
+$441k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$46,844
Earnings (5yr)
$74,842
Lifetime Value Added
+$192k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
MastCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,105
Lifetime Value Added
-$1k
Security Science and Technology
MastCIP: 4304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$79,468
Lifetime Value Added
+$232k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,090
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$71,010
Lifetime Value Added
+$159k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,385
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
Graduate Certificates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Gr-CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$66,171
Lifetime Value Added
+$226k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
Gr-CertCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$77,205
Lifetime Value Added
+$292k
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
Gr-CertCIP: 1110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$112,379
Lifetime Value Added
+$619k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
Gr-CertCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,937
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Special Education and Teaching
Gr-CertCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$54,435
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
Doctoral Degrees
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
DocCIP: 5102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$95,854
Lifetime Value Added
+$205k
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.