College ROI

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Tufts University

Medford, MA 7,061 Undergrads 94.2% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$88,300
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$39,998
After Aid
Median Earnings
$97,474
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$39,998
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$97,474
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$83,214
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate94.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age19.9
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients11.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS82.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
11.5%
SAT Avg
1,513
SAT Reading
25th: 72073575th: 770
SAT Math
25th: 75076075th: 790
ACT Composite
25th: 333475th: 35

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
+$824k
+$357k
+$339k
Median Cost$40k/yr
+$680k
+$213k
+$195k
Full Cost$88k/yr
+$506k
+$39k
+$22k

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
26
∞
Median Cost$40k/yr
34
136%
Full Cost$88k/yr
57
7%
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 Return103%

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-35%
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

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,104
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Archeology
BachCIP: 4503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,748
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,914
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,037
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,333
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$16,250
Earnings (4yr)
$76,782
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biopsychology
BachCIP: 3010
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,131
Natl Median: $57,825
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Biotechnology
BachCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,097
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$115,375
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$314k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$88,924
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$130k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,523
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Cognitive Science
BachCIP: 3025
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$130,801
Natl Median: $81,496
Lifetime Value Added
+$448k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$156,343
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$640k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,642
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$17,850
Earnings (4yr)
$123,809
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$395k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$112,857
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$296k
Engineering Physics
BachCIP: 1412
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,154
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering Science
BachCIP: 1413
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,782
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,670
Earnings (4yr)
$69,475
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,171
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,960
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$41,365
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$248k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$65,540
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$125,189
Natl Median: $50,526
Lifetime Value Added
+$387k
Median Debt
$16,170
Earnings (5yr)
$61,338
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Median Debt
$16,250
Earnings (4yr)
$77,998
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$16,250
Earnings (4yr)
$101,196
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$224k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,612
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,050
Earnings (4yr)
$77,753
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,598
Natl Median: $63,114
Lifetime Value Added
-$349k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,739
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$366k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,850
Earnings (4yr)
$78,180
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$18,250
Earnings (4yr)
$75,448
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$79,571
Natl Median: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Median Debt
$15,200
Earnings (4yr)
$70,767
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$61,719
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $235,700
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$131,618
Earnings (4yr)
$139,106
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$506k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$70,000
Earnings (4yr)
$79,163
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$84,653
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,468
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$64,990
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,947
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,499
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$62,900
Earnings (4yr)
$75,517
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$62,600
Earnings (4yr)
$89,553
Natl Median: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$33,270
Earnings (4yr)
$162,502
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
+$709k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,491
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
-$237k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,403
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$35,246
Earnings (4yr)
$74,319
Natl Median: $58,524
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$137,230
Natl Median: $97,121
Lifetime Value Added
+$490k
Median Debt
$54,446
Earnings (4yr)
$108,836
Natl Median: $95,627
Lifetime Value Added
+$244k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $198,417
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Medicine
MastCIP: 5112
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,321
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,750
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$36,040
Earnings (4yr)
$51,775
Natl Median: $53,692
Lifetime Value Added
-$263k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Nutrition Sciences
MastCIP: 3019
Median Debt
$73,022
Earnings (4yr)
$80,997
Natl Median: $67,126
Lifetime Value Added
+$329
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $129,214
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
MastCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,863
Natl Median: $70,515
Lifetime Value Added
-$282k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$96,582
Earnings (4yr)
$106,072
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$220k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$58,673
Natl Median: $80,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
Median Debt
$73,725
Earnings (4yr)
$80,073
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,216
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,912
Earnings (4yr)
$61,904
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$83,598
Natl Median: $79,634
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Median Debt
$64,540
Earnings (4yr)
$80,661
Natl Median: $119,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
$244,730
Earnings (4yr)
$296,331
Natl Median: $207,164
Lifetime Value Added
+$2061k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,077
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,507
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $195,803
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,899
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Museology/Museum Studies
Gr-CertCIP: 3014
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,250
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,683
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,848
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,578
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $141,187
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
DocCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,704
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $157,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,831
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: $92,538
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,694
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
DocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,070
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,435
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Nutrition Sciences
DocCIP: 3019
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,750
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,696
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,153
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,410
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,822
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Dentistry
ProfCIP: 5104
Median Debt
$368,587
Earnings (4yr)
$175,048
Natl Median: $170,812
Lifetime Value Added
+$503k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$218,623
Earnings (4yr)
$104,668
Natl Median: $112,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Veterinary Medicine
ProfCIP: 0180
Median Debt
$206,815
Earnings (4yr)
$145,237
Natl Median: $131,316
Lifetime Value Added
+$284k

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,220
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,700
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.