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Towson University
Towson, MD 16,136 Undergrads 73.3% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$28,535
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$17,413
After Aid
Median Earnings
$65,610
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$17,413
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (10yr)$65,610
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate73.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients34.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time89.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS80.5%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
82.0%
SAT Avg
1,095
SAT Reading
25th: 49057075th: 635
SAT Math
25th: 46056075th: 600
ACT Composite
25th: 192475th: 27
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
+$573k
+$113k
+$96k
Median Cost$17k/yr
+$511k
+$51k
+$33k
Full Cost$29k/yr
+$471k
+$11k
-$7k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
32
∞
Median Cost$17k/yr
46
53%
Full Cost$29k/yr
Never
-7%
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 Return80%
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-34%
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 (4yr)
$91,252
Nat: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$24,434
Earnings (4yr)
$61,911
Nat: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,141
Nat: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
-$200k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$19,950
Earnings (4yr)
$54,367
Nat: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,793
Nat: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$17,250
Earnings (4yr)
$78,497
Nat: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$21,187
Earnings (4yr)
$76,296
Nat: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$17,989
Earnings (4yr)
$63,292
Nat: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$21,180
Earnings (4yr)
$72,365
Nat: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
+$76k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$75,785
Nat: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$17,625
Earnings (4yr)
$104,653
Nat: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$318k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (2yr)
$21,964
Nat: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
-$329k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$39,753
Nat: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$15,698
Earnings (4yr)
$76,509
Nat: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
Education, Other
BachCIP: 1399
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,949
Nat: $49,113
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$19,392
Earnings (4yr)
$53,164
Nat: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
$18,618
Earnings (4yr)
$50,406
Nat: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (4yr)
$48,238
Nat: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Nat: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (4yr)
$68,077
Nat: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
BachCIP: 5100
Median Debt
$20,841
Earnings (4yr)
$65,108
Nat: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$18,327
Earnings (4yr)
$56,318
Nat: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$17,250
Earnings (4yr)
$57,295
Nat: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Human Services, General
BachCIP: 4400
Median Debt
$20,482
Earnings (4yr)
$52,223
Nat: $48,597
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$72,049
Nat: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$21,824
Earnings (4yr)
$57,498
Nat: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,447
Nat: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$72,409
Nat: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$76k
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General
BachCIP: 3000
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,597
Nat: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,988
Nat: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$246k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$18,801
Earnings (4yr)
$36,285
Nat: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$217k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,388
Nat: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$23,341
Earnings
-
Nat: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$90,457
Nat: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$212k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$17,375
Earnings (4yr)
$60,313
Nat: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,497
Nat: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$42,584
Nat: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$20,464
Earnings (4yr)
$91,044
Nat: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$216k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
BachCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$23,345
Earnings (4yr)
$77,953
Nat: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
+$118k
Religion/Religious Studies
BachCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Security Science and Technology
BachCIP: 4304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,484
Nat: $57,805
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
Social Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,242
Nat: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
Social Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 4599
Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (4yr)
$62,559
Nat: $56,812
Lifetime Value Added
+$249
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$17,089
Earnings (4yr)
$56,971
Nat: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,624
Nat: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,254
Nat: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,635
Nat: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Urban Studies/Affairs
BachCIP: 4512
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $62,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$94,516
Nat: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$363k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
MastCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$68,887
Earnings (4yr)
$140,976
Nat: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$759k
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$80,509
Nat: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
+$243k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$36,799
Earnings (4yr)
$70,385
Nat: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
+$155k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$82,440
Nat: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$303k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$149,320
Nat: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$829k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
MastCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
MastCIP: 2613
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (4yr)
$61,994
Nat: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Educational/Instructional Media Design
MastCIP: 1305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$77,782
Nat: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
+$219k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
MastCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $62,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Geography and Cartography
MastCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Gerontology
MastCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $67,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
MastCIP: 5100
Median Debt
$34,570
Earnings (4yr)
$81,097
Nat: $78,149
Lifetime Value Added
+$248k
Homeland Security
MastCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $96,660
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
MastCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $58,524
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$29,074
Earnings (4yr)
$90,315
Nat: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
+$327k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
MastCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$43,798
Nat: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
MastCIP: 5213
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$35,468
Earnings (4yr)
$70,748
Nat: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
MastCIP: 0909
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $80,125
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$46,844
Earnings (4yr)
$76,069
Nat: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
+$204k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
MastCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,342
Nat: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
Security Science and Technology
MastCIP: 4304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,405
Nat: $82,399
Lifetime Value Added
+$190k
Social Sciences, General
MastCIP: 4501
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $65,443
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,563
Nat: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
+$166k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Nat: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,328
Nat: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
+$119k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,571
Nat: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
Visual and Performing Arts, Other
MastCIP: 5099
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $56,099
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Graduate Certificates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Gr-CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$66,171
Lifetime Value Added
+$229k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
Gr-CertCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$58,402
Lifetime Value Added
+$149k
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
Gr-CertCIP: 1110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$82,440
Nat: $101,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$390k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
Gr-CertCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,937
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Special Education and Teaching
Gr-CertCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$54,435
Nat: $69,147
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
Doctoral Degrees
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
DocCIP: 5102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$83,768
Nat: $88,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
DocCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $154,538
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Educational/Instructional Media Design
DocCIP: 1305
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $89,809
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $82,893
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, 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.