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University at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY 20,284 Undergrads 72.3% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$29,043
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$20,470
After Aid
Median Earnings
$70,814
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$20,470
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$70,814
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate72.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients32.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time93.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS79.5%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
69.3%
SAT Avg
1,298
SAT Reading
25th: 60062075th: 680
SAT Math
25th: 61065075th: 700
ACT Composite
25th: 272875th: 32
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
+$599k
+$203k
+$115k
Median Cost$20k/yr
+$525k
+$129k
+$41k
Full Cost$29k/yr
+$494k
+$98k
+$10k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
31
∞
Median Cost$20k/yr
45
56%
Full Cost$29k/yr
57
10%
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 Return114%
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-21%
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
$17,900
Earnings (5yr)
$83,438
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
BachCIP: 1402
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$83,498
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (2yr)
$27,669
Lifetime Value Added
-$287k
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$22,536
Earnings (5yr)
$62,967
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$68,513
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
BachCIP: 1405
Median Debt
$19,615
Earnings (5yr)
$100,258
Lifetime Value Added
+$272k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$18,697
Earnings (5yr)
$70,223
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$21,512
Earnings (5yr)
$88,444
Lifetime Value Added
+$183k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$22,783
Earnings (5yr)
$55,029
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$76,516
Lifetime Value Added
+$94k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5110
Median Debt
$16,250
Earnings (5yr)
$84,530
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$57,140
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$70,928
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$103,601
Lifetime Value Added
+$297k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$110,541
Lifetime Value Added
+$349k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
$20,446
Earnings (2yr)
$18,771
Lifetime Value Added
-$369k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$37,364
Lifetime Value Added
-$219k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (5yr)
$68,447
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$21,923
Earnings (5yr)
$91,292
Lifetime Value Added
+$205k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$44,686
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Environmental Design
BachCIP: 0404
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (5yr)
$62,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
BachCIP: 1414
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$74,767
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$18,861
Earnings (5yr)
$50,882
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$16,056
Earnings (5yr)
$44,195
Lifetime Value Added
-$161k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$24,510
Earnings (5yr)
$45,228
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (5yr)
$64,138
Lifetime Value Added
+$605
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$21,248
Earnings (5yr)
$50,679
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Industrial Engineering
BachCIP: 1435
Median Debt
$20,875
Earnings (5yr)
$93,933
Lifetime Value Added
+$225k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
$19,970
Earnings (5yr)
$59,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
$16,525
Earnings (5yr)
$45,647
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$17,843
Earnings (5yr)
$67,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$21,530
Earnings (5yr)
$81,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
Pharmacology and Toxicology
BachCIP: 2610
Median Debt
$22,003
Earnings (5yr)
$99,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$266k
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
BachCIP: 2609
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$67,956
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$18,014
Earnings (5yr)
$62,844
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$54,929
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$14,500
Earnings (5yr)
$90,970
Lifetime Value Added
+$202k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Social Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4501
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$56,927
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$15,374
Earnings (5yr)
$56,006
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$16,000
Earnings (5yr)
$103,147
Lifetime Value Added
+$429k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$73,925
Lifetime Value Added
+$178k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$40,119
Earnings (5yr)
$103,081
Lifetime Value Added
+$428k
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning
MastCIP: 0403
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$96,181
Lifetime Value Added
+$369k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (2yr)
$44,356
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$71,575
Lifetime Value Added
+$195k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$32,717
Earnings (5yr)
$65,231
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
MastCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$74,576
Lifetime Value Added
+$223k
Library Science and Administration
MastCIP: 2501
Median Debt
$25,755
Earnings (5yr)
$54,171
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Library Science, Other
MastCIP: 2599
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,856
Lifetime Value Added
-$317
Mechanical Engineering
MastCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$72,482
Lifetime Value Added
+$203k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,594
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
Nutrition Sciences
MastCIP: 3019
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,645
Lifetime Value Added
+$132k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$74,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$181k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$40,798
Earnings (5yr)
$78,817
Lifetime Value Added
+$220k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$70,606
Lifetime Value Added
+$149k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$55,863
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,864
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (5yr)
$56,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Graduate Certificates
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
Gr-CertCIP: 5131
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,856
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Educational Administration and Supervision
Gr-CertCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$73,215
Lifetime Value Added
+$293k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
Gr-CertCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$64,829
Lifetime Value Added
+$210k
Doctoral Degrees
Anthropology
DocCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$71,957
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
English Language and Literature, General
DocCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,432
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$102,203
Earnings (2yr)
$159,761
Lifetime Value Added
+$725k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (5yr)
$69,790
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Professional Degrees
Dentistry
ProfCIP: 5104
Median Debt
$196,586
Earnings (5yr)
$183,422
Lifetime Value Added
+$824k
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$94,242
Earnings (5yr)
$90,174
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
ProfCIP: 5120
Median Debt
$123,815
Earnings (5yr)
$138,822
Lifetime Value Added
+$503k
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.