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University of Akron Main Campus
Akron, OH 10,011 Undergrads 50.4% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$24,555
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$14,981
After Aid
Median Earnings
$46,600
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$14,981
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$46,600
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate50.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients32.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time83.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS69.7%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
70.9%
SAT Avg
1,088
SAT Reading
25th: 480-75th: 590
SAT Math
25th: 470-75th: 600
ACT Composite
25th: 18-75th: 25
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
+$410k
+$13k
-$75k
Median Cost$15k/yr
+$356k
-$41k
-$129k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$321k
-$75k
-$163k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$15k/yr
Never
-239%
Full Cost$25k/yr
Never
-185%
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 Return-224%
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-104%
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
Associate's Degrees
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$23,050
Earnings (5yr)
$36,185
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$16,114
Earnings (5yr)
$55,746
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$22,374
Earnings (2yr)
$31,314
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
Computer Systems Analysis
AssocCIP: 1105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,744
Lifetime Value Added
+$94k
Construction Engineering Technologies
AssocCIP: 1510
Median Debt
$24,854
Earnings (5yr)
$86,913
Lifetime Value Added
+$345k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$14,375
Earnings (5yr)
$46,433
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Culinary Arts and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1205
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$26,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$223k
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$73,984
Lifetime Value Added
+$231k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$32,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$20,490
Earnings (5yr)
$46,338
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1508
Median Debt
$22,999
Earnings (5yr)
$67,502
Lifetime Value Added
+$174k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$23,057
Earnings (5yr)
$69,301
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (5yr)
$57,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Apparel and Textiles
BachCIP: 1909
Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (2yr)
$31,670
Lifetime Value Added
-$231k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$69,887
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$61,961
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
BachCIP: 1405
Median Debt
$23,123
Earnings (5yr)
$76,829
Lifetime Value Added
+$116k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$25,971
Earnings (5yr)
$67,575
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$29,063
Earnings (5yr)
$55,195
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (5yr)
$93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$241k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$77,310
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$54,967
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$23,320
Earnings (5yr)
$96,653
Lifetime Value Added
+$265k
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
BachCIP: 1109
Median Debt
$26,759
Earnings (5yr)
$81,650
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
Construction Engineering Technologies
BachCIP: 1510
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$81,565
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$49,011
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$49,092
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$26,937
Earnings (5yr)
$49,246
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
BachCIP: 5131
Median Debt
$24,233
Earnings (5yr)
$51,630
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
$26,953
Earnings (5yr)
$86,801
Lifetime Value Added
+$191k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$24,720
Earnings (5yr)
$93,216
Lifetime Value Added
+$239k
Engineering-Related Technologies
BachCIP: 1511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$27,500
Earnings (5yr)
$44,077
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$21,946
Earnings (5yr)
$66,385
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$25,169
Earnings (5yr)
$32,675
Lifetime Value Added
-$239k
Fire Protection
BachCIP: 4302
Median Debt
$24,405
Earnings (5yr)
$62,850
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1905
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,713
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations
BachCIP: 5218
Median Debt
$25,750
Earnings (5yr)
$75,758
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$60,028
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$28,900
Earnings (5yr)
$47,189
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$37,660
Lifetime Value Added
-$196k
Housing and Human Environments
BachCIP: 1906
Median Debt
$24,417
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$28,500
Earnings (5yr)
$37,280
Lifetime Value Added
-$199k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$21,200
Earnings (5yr)
$64,139
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$71,713
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$28,375
Earnings (5yr)
$57,605
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$63,842
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Mathematics and Computer Science
BachCIP: 3008
Median Debt
$24,668
Earnings (5yr)
$94,546
Lifetime Value Added
+$249k
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1508
Median Debt
$24,298
Earnings (5yr)
$71,388
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$87,380
Lifetime Value Added
+$195k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$24,600
Earnings (5yr)
$27,350
Lifetime Value Added
-$285k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$25,408
Earnings (5yr)
$57,740
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$25,002
Earnings (5yr)
$43,117
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$25,965
Earnings (5yr)
$53,071
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$37,905
Lifetime Value Added
-$194k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$21,300
Earnings (5yr)
$74,140
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
BachCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$23,931
Earnings (5yr)
$57,930
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (5yr)
$42,412
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,290
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$23,063
Earnings (5yr)
$41,933
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$26,115
Earnings (5yr)
$41,433
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,247
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$80,352
Lifetime Value Added
+$243k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$29,568
Earnings (5yr)
$90,854
Lifetime Value Added
+$333k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,352
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$94k
Educational/Instructional Media Design
MastCIP: 1305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,733
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$17,085
Earnings (5yr)
$53,730
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$57,604
Earnings (5yr)
$50,965
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$15,552
Lifetime Value Added
-$357k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,969
Lifetime Value Added
+$119k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$116,171
Lifetime Value Added
+$550k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
MastCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,964
Lifetime Value Added
-$288k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$37,500
Earnings (5yr)
$56,521
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$45,500
Earnings (5yr)
$58,659
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$104,152
Lifetime Value Added
+$447k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$39,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,137
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Professional Degrees
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$71,000
Earnings (5yr)
$77,421
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
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.