College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, AL 11,635 Undergrads 57.7% Grad Rate
School Website
Share
Total Cost
$27,987
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$15,630
After Aid
Median Earnings
$62,320
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$15,630
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$62,320
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$59,631
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate57.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)23.6
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients37.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time82.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS73.2%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
88.2%
SAT Avg
1,258
SAT Reading
25th: 60066075th: 710
SAT Math
25th: 61068075th: 740
ACT Composite
25th: 232675th: 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)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$547k
+$77k
+$61k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$491k
+$21k
+$5k
Full Cost$28k/yr
+$447k
-$23k
-$40k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
36
∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
60
8%
Full Cost$28k/yr
Never
-39%
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 Return23%

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-48%

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 →

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
-$66k
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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
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$69,201
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
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Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$31,991
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$242k
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Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,174
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
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Median Debt
$17,070
Earnings (4yr)
$90,415
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$231k
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Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$63,036
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,318
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
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Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$24,792
Earnings (4yr)
$78,054
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
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Median Debt
$20,987
Earnings (4yr)
$44,461
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
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Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$104,654
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$340k
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Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$51,643
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
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Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$37,173
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
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Median Debt
$20,114
Earnings (4yr)
$90,089
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$229k
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Median Debt
$18,336
Earnings (4yr)
$48,706
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,455
Earnings (4yr)
$66,980
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
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Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$43,138
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
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Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (4yr)
$76,648
Natl Median: $75,399
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
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Genetics
BachCIP: 2608
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,076
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,688
Earnings (4yr)
$53,021
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
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Median Debt
$31,250
Earnings (5yr)
$50,989
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$20,875
Earnings (4yr)
$48,565
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
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Median Debt
$31,169
Earnings (4yr)
$61,781
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
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Median Debt
$18,375
Earnings (4yr)
$45,714
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
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Median Debt
$16,572
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$79,843
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
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Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (4yr)
$56,591
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$83,985
Natl Median: $91,449
Lifetime Value Added
+$182k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,453
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
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Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$89,589
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$225k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,768
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
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Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,169
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
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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
$19,875
Earnings (4yr)
$44,493
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$46,369
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
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Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (4yr)
$44,398
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
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Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$78,224
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$138k
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Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,805
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,004
Natl Median: $56,812
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
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Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$21,154
Earnings (4yr)
$47,791
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$40,148
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
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Median Debt
$22,638
Earnings (4yr)
$49,139
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
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Median Debt
$21,969
Earnings (4yr)
$52,435
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
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Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$34,100
Earnings (4yr)
$84,420
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$76k
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Median Debt
$134,458
Earnings (4yr)
$114,503
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$339k
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Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$25,225
Earnings (4yr)
$57,581
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biotechnology
MastCIP: 2612
Median Debt
$27,456
Earnings (4yr)
$65,277
Natl Median: $107,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
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Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$108,063
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$283k
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Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$69,066
Earnings (4yr)
$69,427
Natl Median: $90,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,662
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k
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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
+$361k
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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
Median Debt
$35,500
Earnings (4yr)
$60,577
Natl Median: $62,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,074
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
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Median Debt
$32,621
Earnings (4yr)
$60,351
Natl Median: $66,232
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
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Median Debt
$34,166
Earnings (4yr)
$118,501
Natl Median: $120,215
Lifetime Value Added
+$374k
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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
$54,225
Earnings (4yr)
$136,395
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$529k
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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
$34,166
Earnings (4yr)
$103,679
Natl Median: $106,092
Lifetime Value Added
+$245k
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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
$30,750
Earnings (4yr)
$61,956
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
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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
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,916
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
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Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$34,799
Earnings (4yr)
$91,073
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$134k
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Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$115,581
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$348k
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Median Debt
$86,581
Earnings (4yr)
$69,535
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,281
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,157
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k
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Median Debt
$41,752
Earnings (4yr)
$56,116
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$178k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$124,712
Natl Median: $111,527
Lifetime Value Added
+$428k
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Median Debt
$34,666
Earnings (4yr)
$56,131
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$178k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,945
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,607
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
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Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$244,666
Natl Median: $207,164
Lifetime Value Added
+$1601k
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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
+$106k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,117
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
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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
$36,166
Earnings (4yr)
$140,663
Natl Median: $88,684
Lifetime Value Added
+$691k
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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
-$20k
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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
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
-$72k
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Public Health
DocCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,962
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$71,638
Earnings (4yr)
$141,379
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$343k
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Median Debt
$98,080
Earnings (4yr)
$80,699
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
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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
$227,882
Earnings (4yr)
$162,018
Natl Median: $170,812
Lifetime Value Added
+$494k
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Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$184,222
Earnings (4yr)
$112,084
Natl Median: $112,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$128k
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Optometry
ProfCIP: 5117
Median Debt
$177,834
Earnings (4yr)
$145,890
Natl Median: $131,525
Lifetime Value Added
+$376k
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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.