College ROI

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Tufts University

Medford, MA 7,061 Undergrads 93.9% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$92,054
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$38,797
After Aid
Median Earnings
$90,818
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$38,797
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$90,818
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$89,187
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate93.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)19.9
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients13.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS87.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
11.5%
SAT Avg
1,513
SAT Reading
25th: 72074075th: 770
SAT Math
25th: 75077075th: 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)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$763k
+$293k
+$277k
Median Cost$39k/yr
+$624k
+$154k
+$137k
Full Cost$92k/yr
+$432k
-$38k
-$54k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
27
∞
Median Cost$39k/yr
37
98%
Full Cost$92k/yr
Never
-16%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
  • 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 Return58%

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-49%

Program ROI Analysis

These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →

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
-$16k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,333
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$16,250
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$15,250
Earnings (4yr)
$76,782
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
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Median Debt
$14,749
Earnings (5yr)
$99,598
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$203k
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Biopsychology
BachCIP: 3010
Median Debt
$16,156
Earnings (2yr)
$35,330
Natl Median: $57,825
Lifetime Value Added
-$284k
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Biotechnology
BachCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,097
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$73,635
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
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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
+$136k
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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
$18,250
Earnings (4yr)
$130,801
Natl Median: $81,496
Lifetime Value Added
+$454k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$156,343
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$646k
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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
$16,250
Earnings (4yr)
$123,809
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$402k
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Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$84,653
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$130k
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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
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,475
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
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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
$17,900
Earnings (4yr)
$59,960
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
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Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$41,365
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$244k
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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
$14,625
Earnings (4yr)
$65,540
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$124,328
Natl Median: $50,526
Lifetime Value Added
+$387k
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Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (5yr)
$66,511
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
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Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$77,998
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (5yr)
$160,936
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$656k
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Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$101,196
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
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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
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$77,753
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,598
Natl Median: $63,114
Lifetime Value Added
-$345k
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Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,739
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$362k
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Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,375
Earnings (4yr)
$78,180
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$54k
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Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$75,448
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,250
Earnings (4yr)
$79,571
Natl Median: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$70,767
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$16,489
Earnings (4yr)
$61,719
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
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Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $235,700
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$167,843
Earnings (4yr)
$139,106
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$509k
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Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$72,800
Earnings (4yr)
$79,163
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
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Median Debt
$32,724
Earnings (5yr)
$151,062
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
+$587k
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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 (5yr)
$100,767
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$159k
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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
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$75,517
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
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Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$82,082
Earnings (4yr)
$89,553
Natl Median: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
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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
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$162,502
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
+$711k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$44,678
Earnings (4yr)
$54,491
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
-$236k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,403
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$33,925
Earnings (4yr)
$74,319
Natl Median: $58,524
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$137,230
Natl Median: $97,121
Lifetime Value Added
+$493k
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Median Debt
$55,710
Earnings (4yr)
$108,836
Natl Median: $95,627
Lifetime Value Added
+$247k
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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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,750
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,775
Natl Median: $53,692
Lifetime Value Added
-$262k
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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
$72,100
Earnings (4yr)
$80,997
Natl Median: $67,126
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
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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
-$281k
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Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$117,242
Earnings (4yr)
$106,072
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$223k
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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
-$175k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$80,073
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,216
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,904
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$83,598
Natl Median: $79,634
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$80,661
Natl Median: $119,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$540
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Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
$302,402
Earnings (4yr)
$296,331
Natl Median: $207,164
Lifetime Value Added
+$2066k
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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
$137,783
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
$440,270
Earnings (4yr)
$175,048
Natl Median: $170,812
Lifetime Value Added
+$506k
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Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$250,132
Earnings (4yr)
$104,668
Natl Median: $112,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
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Veterinary Medicine
ProfCIP: 0180
Median Debt
$240,920
Earnings (4yr)
$145,237
Natl Median: $131,316
Lifetime Value Added
+$288k
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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.