College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of Alaska Anchorage

Anchorage, AK 7,212 Undergrads 32.6% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$24,783
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,077
After Aid
Median Earnings
$68,667
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$13,077
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$68,667
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Warning: This school's reported earnings inflated significantly (+27%) when the Dept of Education excluded non-graduates from the dataset. Take caution when comparing.
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$53,994
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate32.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average starting age (2015-17)25.1
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 Recipients31.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time53.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS66.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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
+$597k
+$127k
+$111k
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$550k
+$80k
+$64k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$508k
+$38k
+$21k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
32
∞
Median Cost$13k/yr
39
135%
Full Cost$25k/yr
52
24%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.⚠️ 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

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 Return139%

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-14%

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: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $38,675
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,615
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,673
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,229
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,148
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,199
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $31,135
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,032
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$86,697
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
+$433k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,862
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,363
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
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Air Transportation
AssocCIP: 4901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,193
Natl Median: $75,495
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
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Median Debt
$12,761
Earnings (4yr)
$46,484
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
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Median Debt
$23,255
Earnings (4yr)
$76,360
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$272k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,347
Natl Median: $46,077
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,472
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Programming
AssocCIP: 1102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,070
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$72,309
Natl Median: $54,971
Lifetime Value Added
+$223k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,110
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,231
Natl Median: $39,605
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,942
Natl Median: $61,982
Lifetime Value Added
+$304k
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Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$85,656
Natl Median: $73,046
Lifetime Value Added
+$340k
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Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,570
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $38,387
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fire Protection
AssocCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,589
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$90,501
Natl Median: $51,711
Lifetime Value Added
+$399k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,236
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,017
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$125,483
Natl Median: $73,593
Lifetime Value Added
+$711k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$12,266
Earnings (4yr)
$44,008
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$30,278
Natl Median: $40,734
Lifetime Value Added
-$175k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
AssocCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,759
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$51,273
Natl Median: $77,094
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,780
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Natl Median: $58,424
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
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Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$77,625
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$143k
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Air Transportation
BachCIP: 4901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$80,981
Natl Median: $85,825
Lifetime Value Added
+$168k
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Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,547
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
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Median Debt
$17,051
Earnings (4yr)
$51,889
Natl Median: $58,891
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
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Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,306
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
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Median Debt
$21,312
Earnings (4yr)
$63,122
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$85,650
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$204k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$92,768
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$258k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$103,316
Natl Median: $95,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$339k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,199
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,061
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,753
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,508
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$318k
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Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$113,178
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$397k
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Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$86,227
Natl Median: $74,842
Lifetime Value Added
+$208k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,326
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$187k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$84,736
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$197k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,569
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$34,847
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$196k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$36,650
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,305
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$228k
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Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,321
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,219
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$98,156
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$299k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,660
Natl Median: $52,119
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
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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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$243k
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Non-Professional Legal Studies
BachCIP: 2200
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,164
Natl Median: $61,959
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
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Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$51,858
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
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Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$27,085
Earnings (4yr)
$53,245
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,525
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,560
Earnings (4yr)
$93,001
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$260k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$90,046
Natl Median: $68,416
Lifetime Value Added
+$238k
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Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$16,164
Earnings (4yr)
$56,698
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
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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
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,612
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Legal Support Services
PB-CertCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,073
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,623
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$103,070
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$244k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$98,072
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$183k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$121,953
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$408k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$35,376
Earnings (4yr)
$72,105
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$76,488
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
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Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$56,415
Natl Median: $65,965
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$87,604
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
+$227k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,147
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$78,628
Natl Median: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k
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Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

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.