College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

University of Alabama in Huntsville

Huntsville, AL 6,591 Undergrads 59.6% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$27,392
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$18,796
After Aid
Median Earnings
$81,045
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$18,796
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$81,045
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Warning: This school's reported earnings inflated significantly (+31%) when the Dept of Education excluded non-graduates from the dataset. Take caution when comparing.
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$61,767
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate59.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age22.7
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients24.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time86.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS78.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
68.6%
SAT Avg
1,319
SAT Reading
25th: 60064075th: 690
SAT Math
25th: 61065575th: 720
ACT Composite
25th: 242875th: 31

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
+$698k
+$231k
+$214k
Median Cost$19k/yr
+$631k
+$164k
+$146k
Full Cost$27k/yr
+$600k
+$133k
+$115k

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
28
∞
Median Cost$19k/yr
33
216%
Full Cost$27k/yr
37
117%
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 Return316%

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 Return39%
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: $45,242
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$21,034
Earnings (4yr)
$71,245
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$71k
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$87,339
Natl Median: $98,207
Lifetime Value Added
+$194k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,736
Earnings (4yr)
$45,992
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$62,872
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$90,681
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$220k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$19,049
Earnings (4yr)
$78,858
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$130k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,715
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$95,076
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$253k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$105,920
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$336k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,125
Earnings (4yr)
$100,296
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$293k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$91,645
Natl Median: $89,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$227k
Engineering, Other
BachCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,989
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$89,472
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$211k
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (4yr)
$43,321
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,997
Earnings (4yr)
$95,153
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$254k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,088
Earnings (4yr)
$78,319
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$15,250
Earnings (4yr)
$58,015
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,675
Earnings (4yr)
$95,341
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$255k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,392
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,096
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$24,750
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,911
Earnings (4yr)
$75,430
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$103k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,270
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,922
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $104,114
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,265
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $146,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,752
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$55,964
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $122,434
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
$17,000
Earnings (4yr)
$102,853
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$231k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,468
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$134,445
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
+$505k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$86,867
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
Engineering, Other
MastCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $129,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $119,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,092
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$118,475
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$367k
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,471
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
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)
-
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$28,500
Earnings (4yr)
$106,647
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$264k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,640
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,268
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$100,399
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
+$308k

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,660
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,729
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $102,099
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
DocCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $157,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,070
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,341
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,994
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$34,361
Earnings (4yr)
$132,900
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$270k

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.