College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University at Albany

Albany, NY 12,564 Undergrads 68.0% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$28,802
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$17,167
After Aid
Median Earnings
$66,256
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$17,167
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$66,256
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$67,979
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate68.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age20.6
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients43.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time95.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS78.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
69.1%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: -59575th: -
SAT Math
25th: -59075th: -
ACT Composite
25th: -2675th: -

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
+$585k
+$118k
+$101k
Median Cost$17k/yr
+$523k
+$56k
+$39k
Full Cost$29k/yr
+$481k
+$15k
-$3k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
32
∞
Median Cost$17k/yr
45
63%
Full Cost$29k/yr
Never
-3%
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 Return91%

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-28%
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
$22,186
Earnings (4yr)
$98,010
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$282k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$47,095
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
$19,719
Earnings (4yr)
$103,659
Natl Median: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
+$325k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$21,361
Earnings (4yr)
$50,572
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,997
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$68,178
Natl Median: $65,681
Lifetime Value Added
+$54k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,703
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Median Debt
$19,800
Earnings (4yr)
$76,633
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$118k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (4yr)
$70,124
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
Median Debt
$18,842
Earnings (4yr)
$58,501
Natl Median: $50,523
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
Median Debt
$20,066
Earnings (4yr)
$59,724
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$80,285
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$95,885
Natl Median: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
+$265k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$19,400
Earnings (4yr)
$61,102
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$19,455
Natl Median: $51,642
Lifetime Value Added
-$351k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$19,574
Earnings (4yr)
$63,331
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,662
Earnings (4yr)
$51,206
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Median Debt
$24,547
Earnings (4yr)
$51,565
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Median Debt
$19,625
Earnings (4yr)
$42,540
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,377
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Homeland Security
BachCIP: 4303
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$69,365
Natl Median: $70,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,275
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (4yr)
$63,881
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$22,467
Earnings (4yr)
$59,495
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $91,449
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,895
Earnings (4yr)
$68,843
Natl Median: $88,839
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$21,531
Earnings (4yr)
$71,211
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,784
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$19,227
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$353k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$19,031
Earnings (5yr)
$65,574
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$64,270
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,789
Earnings (4yr)
$55,004
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Median Debt
$18,400
Earnings (4yr)
$68,928
Natl Median: $61,630
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (4yr)
$64,456
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,721
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,286
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$66,414
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$20,565
Earnings (4yr)
$59,475
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,508
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,150
Natl Median: $62,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$110,374
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$299k
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,936
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,482
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$31,500
Earnings (4yr)
$113,822
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$329k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,665
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$70,022
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminology
MastCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$23,642
Earnings (4yr)
$71,183
Natl Median: $67,647
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Median Debt
$20,267
Earnings (4yr)
$66,047
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
$24,153
Earnings (4yr)
$74,708
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,691
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$184k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$51,514
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
-$224k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$29,250
Earnings (4yr)
$58,314
Natl Median: $112,705
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,627
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,282
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$36,750
Earnings (4yr)
$63,771
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
MastCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$28,125
Earnings (4yr)
$84,950
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$32,643
Earnings (4yr)
$77,882
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,461
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$37,349
Earnings (4yr)
$64,213
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,341
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$109,679
Natl Median: $114,810
Lifetime Value Added
+$293k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,335
Earnings (4yr)
$58,847
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,509
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$68,219
Natl Median: $101,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
Gr-CertCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $118,588
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,959
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,834
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,763
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, Other
Gr-CertCIP: 4299
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,208
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Administration
Gr-CertCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$25,886
Earnings (4yr)
$81,812
Natl Median: $78,022
Lifetime Value Added
+$133k
Public Health
Gr-CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$28,298
Earnings (4yr)
$74,144
Natl Median: $88,684
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,147
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,178
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Anthropology
DocCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,473
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $102,099
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: $153,586
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$108,938
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,931
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $154,538
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminology
DocCIP: 4504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,153
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,031
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,831
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
DocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,550
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $126,925
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,845
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: $108,943
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: $90,908
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,464
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
DocCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,962
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,410
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,860
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
DocCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
DocCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,168
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.