College ROI

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University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, AL 11,635 Undergrads 57.8% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$28,145
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$18,749
After Aid
Median Earnings
$64,969
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$18,749
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$64,969
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$54,501
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate57.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age23.6
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients34.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time82.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.4%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
88.2%
SAT Avg
1,258
SAT Reading
25th: 60063775th: 710
SAT Math
25th: 61064475th: 740
ACT Composite
25th: 232775th: 30

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
+$575k
+$108k
+$91k
Median Cost$19k/yr
+$508k
+$41k
+$23k
Full Cost$28k/yr
+$474k
+$7k
-$11k

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
33
∞
Median Cost$19k/yr
50
34%
Full Cost$28k/yr
Never
-10%
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 Return77%

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-32%
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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$36,787
Natl Median: $33,673
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Marketing
CertCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,757
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,696
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$69,201
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$31,991
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$253k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (4yr)
$55,174
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Median Debt
$22,676
Earnings (4yr)
$90,415
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$63,036
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,318
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$25,750
Earnings (4yr)
$78,054
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Median Debt
$21,360
Earnings (4yr)
$44,461
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (4yr)
$104,654
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$327k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$51,643
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Median Debt
$24,784
Earnings (4yr)
$37,173
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$208k
Median Debt
$23,362
Earnings (4yr)
$90,089
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$215k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$129,181
Natl Median: $88,063
Lifetime Value Added
+$493k
Median Debt
$22,373
Earnings (4yr)
$48,706
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$66,980
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Median Debt
$23,437
Earnings (4yr)
$43,138
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,648
Natl Median: $75,399
Lifetime Value Added
+$113k
Genetics
BachCIP: 2608
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,076
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,125
Earnings (4yr)
$53,021
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Median Debt
$24,125
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (4yr)
$48,565
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Median Debt
$22,375
Earnings (4yr)
$61,781
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Median Debt
$21,614
Earnings (4yr)
$45,714
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$79,843
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$22,072
Earnings (4yr)
$56,591
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$83,985
Natl Median: $91,449
Lifetime Value Added
+$169k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$23,571
Earnings (4yr)
$57,453
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (4yr)
$89,589
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$212k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,768
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Median Debt
$18,625
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$44,493
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,868
Earnings (4yr)
$46,369
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$44,398
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$78,224
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,805
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,004
Natl Median: $56,812
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$24,990
Earnings (4yr)
$47,791
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$40,148
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$182k
Median Debt
$28,267
Earnings (4yr)
$49,139
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,435
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$29,751
Earnings (4yr)
$84,420
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
Median Debt
$109,751
Earnings (4yr)
$114,503
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$332k
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (4yr)
$57,581
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biotechnology
MastCIP: 2612
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$65,277
Natl Median: $107,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Median Debt
$34,459
Earnings (4yr)
$108,063
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$276k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$50,980
Earnings (4yr)
$69,427
Natl Median: $90,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Median Debt
$34,167
Earnings (4yr)
$54,662
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$117,049
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
+$355k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Dentistry
MastCIP: 5104
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $327,492
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,603
Earnings (4yr)
$60,577
Natl Median: $62,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (4yr)
$79,074
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Median Debt
$27,330
Earnings (4yr)
$60,351
Natl Median: $66,232
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$34,166
Earnings (4yr)
$118,501
Natl Median: $120,215
Lifetime Value Added
+$367k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$136,395
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$522k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,149
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$40,861
Earnings (4yr)
$103,679
Natl Median: $106,092
Lifetime Value Added
+$238k
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$37,866
Earnings (4yr)
$61,956
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Nutrition Sciences
MastCIP: 3019
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,126
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: $67,681
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$36,487
Earnings (4yr)
$61,916
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$32,000
Earnings (4yr)
$91,073
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$128k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$115,581
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$342k
Median Debt
$67,010
Earnings (4yr)
$69,535
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$34,166
Earnings (4yr)
$68,281
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Median Debt
$37,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,157
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
Median Debt
$47,260
Earnings (4yr)
$56,116
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
Median Debt
$35,696
Earnings (4yr)
$124,712
Natl Median: $111,527
Lifetime Value Added
+$421k
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (4yr)
$56,131
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
Median Debt
$23,875
Earnings (4yr)
$59,945
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Median Debt
$15,350
Earnings (4yr)
$56,607
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$245,003
Natl Median: $207,164
Lifetime Value Added
+$1599k
Biology, General
Gr-CertCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,581
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,517
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
Gr-CertCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$78,653
Natl Median: $69,448
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,117
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,275
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,117
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,899
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Administration
Gr-CertCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,022
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
Gr-CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$140,663
Natl Median: $88,684
Lifetime Value Added
+$687k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,852
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,774
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,729
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,683
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,096
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
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
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $167,302
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,173
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$88,506
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Engineering, Other
DocCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $140,028
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: $126,299
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,845
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,435
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Molecular Medicine
DocCIP: 2614
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $114,346
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Nutrition Sciences
DocCIP: 3019
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,750
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: $93,640
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$85,091
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Public Health
DocCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,962
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$48,950
Earnings (4yr)
$141,379
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$332k
Median Debt
$89,010
Earnings (4yr)
$80,699
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Sociology
DocCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
DocCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,993
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
$162,018
Natl Median: $170,812
Lifetime Value Added
+$484k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$112,084
Natl Median: $112,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k
Optometry
ProfCIP: 5117
Median Debt
$164,956
Earnings (4yr)
$145,890
Natl Median: $131,525
Lifetime Value Added
+$365k

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.