College ROI

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Towson University

Towson, MD 16,136 Undergrads 73.3% Grad Rate
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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: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$65,610
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$64,390
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate73.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age21.5
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
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
+$580k
+$113k
+$96k
Median Cost$17k/yr
+$517k
+$51k
+$33k
Full Cost$29k/yr
+$477k
+$10k
-$7k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
33
∞
Median Cost$17k/yr
46
53%
Full Cost$29k/yr
Never
-7%
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 Return84%

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-30%
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)
$91,252
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$229k
Median Debt
$24,434
Earnings (4yr)
$61,911
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,096
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k
Median Debt
$19,950
Earnings (4yr)
$54,367
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,793
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Median Debt
$17,250
Earnings (4yr)
$78,497
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$132k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$21,187
Earnings (4yr)
$76,296
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
Median Debt
$17,989
Earnings (4yr)
$63,292
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Median Debt
$21,180
Earnings (4yr)
$72,365
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
+$85k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$75,785
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$17,625
Earnings (4yr)
$104,653
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$331k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (2yr)
$21,964
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
-$328k
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$39,753
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$15,698
Earnings (4yr)
$76,509
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k
Education, Other
BachCIP: 1399
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,949
Natl Median: $49,113
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Median Debt
$19,392
Earnings (4yr)
$53,164
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Median Debt
$18,618
Earnings (4yr)
$50,406
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (4yr)
$48,238
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,017
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (4yr)
$68,077
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
Median Debt
$20,841
Earnings (4yr)
$65,108
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$18,327
Earnings (4yr)
$56,318
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Median Debt
$17,250
Earnings (4yr)
$57,295
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Median Debt
$20,482
Earnings (4yr)
$52,223
Natl Median: $48,597
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$72,049
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
Median Debt
$21,824
Earnings (4yr)
$57,498
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,447
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$72,409
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$85k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,597
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,047
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$18,801
Earnings (4yr)
$36,285
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$211k
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,388
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$23,341
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$90,457
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$223k
Median Debt
$17,375
Earnings (4yr)
$60,313
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,497
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$42,584
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Median Debt
$20,464
Earnings (4yr)
$91,044
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$228k
Median Debt
$23,345
Earnings (4yr)
$77,953
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
+$128k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,484
Natl Median: $57,805
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,242
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (4yr)
$62,559
Natl Median: $56,812
Lifetime Value Added
+$9k
Median Debt
$17,089
Earnings (4yr)
$56,971
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,624
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,254
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,635
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$94,516
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
Median Debt
$68,887
Earnings (4yr)
$140,976
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$564k
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$80,509
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$99,373
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$186k
Median Debt
$36,799
Earnings (4yr)
$70,385
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$122,926
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$387k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$149,320
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$636k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (4yr)
$61,994
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$77,782
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Gerontology
MastCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$34,570
Earnings (4yr)
$81,097
Natl Median: $78,149
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Homeland Security
MastCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,660
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,524
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$29,074
Earnings (4yr)
$90,315
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
+$123k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$43,798
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$282k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$35,468
Earnings (4yr)
$70,748
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,125
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$103,756
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$223k
Median Debt
$46,844
Earnings (4yr)
$76,069
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$1k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,342
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,405
Natl Median: $82,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,443
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,563
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,328
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,571
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,099
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$66,171
Natl Median: $87,252
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$77,205
Natl Median: $74,263
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$112,379
Natl Median: $101,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$402k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,937
Natl Median: $49,557
Lifetime Value Added
-$246k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$54,435
Natl Median: $69,147
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$95,854
Natl Median: $88,343
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $154,538
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,809
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $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 (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.