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University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ 40,769 Undergrads 63.4% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$28,543
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$15,960
After Aid
Median Earnings
$59,979
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$15,960
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$59,979
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate63.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients27.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time83.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS75.6%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
85.7%
SAT Avg
1,261
SAT Reading
25th: 58062075th: 700
SAT Math
25th: 58062575th: 720
ACT Composite
25th: 212575th: 30
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
+$517k
+$120k
+$32k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$459k
+$63k
-$25k
Full Cost$29k/yr
+$414k
+$18k
-$70k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
42
∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
Never
-44%
Full Cost$29k/yr
Never
-69%
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-27%
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-60%
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
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$21,550
Earnings (5yr)
$92,207
Lifetime Value Added
+$228k
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
BachCIP: 1402
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$103,537
Lifetime Value Added
+$313k
Agricultural Business and Management
BachCIP: 0101
Median Debt
$23,125
Earnings (5yr)
$74,566
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 0199
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,757
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs
BachCIP: 0113
Median Debt
$16,799
Earnings (5yr)
$57,295
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$18,527
Earnings (5yr)
$52,398
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$21,869
Earnings (5yr)
$46,008
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Architecture and Related Services, Other
BachCIP: 0499
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (5yr)
$62,908
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (5yr)
$52,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$18,349
Earnings (5yr)
$69,436
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
Biological/Biosystems Engineering
BachCIP: 1445
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$63,005
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$60,232
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
BachCIP: 1405
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$98,396
Lifetime Value Added
+$274k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$23,830
Earnings (5yr)
$71,600
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,281
Lifetime Value Added
-$220k
Business/Managerial Economics
BachCIP: 5206
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$103,583
Lifetime Value Added
+$313k
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
BachCIP: 2604
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (5yr)
$66,082
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$95,730
Lifetime Value Added
+$254k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$24,219
Earnings (5yr)
$74,225
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning
BachCIP: 0403
Median Debt
$24,863
Earnings (5yr)
$85,914
Lifetime Value Added
+$181k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$17,937
Earnings (5yr)
$88,614
Lifetime Value Added
+$201k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$18,910
Earnings (5yr)
$71,141
Lifetime Value Added
+$70k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$16,118
Earnings (5yr)
$59,154
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$23,406
Earnings (5yr)
$86,506
Lifetime Value Added
+$185k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (5yr)
$115,435
Lifetime Value Added
+$401k
Computer Software and Media Applications
BachCIP: 1108
Median Debt
$22,198
Earnings (2yr)
$33,446
Lifetime Value Added
-$218k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
$19,875
Earnings (2yr)
$18,315
Lifetime Value Added
-$357k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$23,665
Earnings (5yr)
$29,220
Lifetime Value Added
-$272k
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
BachCIP: 2613
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$19,489
Earnings (5yr)
$70,028
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research
BachCIP: 1306
Median Debt
$20,069
Earnings (5yr)
$48,576
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$105,242
Lifetime Value Added
+$325k
Engineering-Related Fields
BachCIP: 1515
Median Debt
$24,777
Earnings (2yr)
$73,215
Lifetime Value Added
+$119k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$18,725
Earnings (5yr)
$48,554
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
BachCIP: 5207
Median Debt
$24,425
Earnings (5yr)
$84,481
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
$25,438
Earnings (5yr)
$45,742
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$55,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$106,340
Lifetime Value Added
+$334k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (5yr)
$36,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$209k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$24,017
Earnings (5yr)
$50,703
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$66,461
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1605
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$23,351
Lifetime Value Added
-$310k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$22,448
Earnings (5yr)
$49,272
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Homeland Security
BachCIP: 4303
Median Debt
$20,101
Earnings (5yr)
$60,515
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$47,311
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$76,592
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
International/Global Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,506
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$59,230
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,217
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (5yr)
$92,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$231k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$89,951
Lifetime Value Added
+$211k
Materials Sciences
BachCIP: 4010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$99,030
Lifetime Value Added
+$279k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$18,813
Earnings (5yr)
$81,236
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$95,672
Lifetime Value Added
+$254k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (5yr)
$46,730
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
BachCIP: 2605
Median Debt
$20,005
Earnings (5yr)
$54,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Mining and Mineral Engineering
BachCIP: 1421
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (5yr)
$102,825
Lifetime Value Added
+$307k
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General
BachCIP: 3000
Median Debt
$22,494
Earnings (5yr)
$53,789
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$14,650
Earnings (5yr)
$39,164
Lifetime Value Added
-$187k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$46,607
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
BachCIP: 2615
Median Debt
$21,754
Earnings (5yr)
$62,984
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Nutrition Sciences
BachCIP: 3019
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$56,205
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (5yr)
$56,983
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$92,526
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
BachCIP: 2609
Median Debt
$19,850
Earnings (5yr)
$65,726
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$64,459
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$51,974
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Public Administration
BachCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$20,202
Earnings (5yr)
$57,287
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$58,292
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$85,529
Lifetime Value Added
+$178k
Religion/Religious Studies
BachCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$293k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
$20,850
Earnings (5yr)
$47,986
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$47,583
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Science Technologies/Technicians, Other
BachCIP: 4199
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,548
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$18,375
Earnings (5yr)
$48,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$46,092
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Systems Engineering
BachCIP: 1427
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (5yr)
$103,877
Lifetime Value Added
+$315k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,691
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$25,340
Earnings (5yr)
$47,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$95,731
Lifetime Value Added
+$373k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,521
Lifetime Value Added
+$113k
Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$209k
Biotechnology
MastCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,439
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$129,743
Lifetime Value Added
+$664k
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning
MastCIP: 0403
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$72,953
Lifetime Value Added
+$178k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,555
Lifetime Value Added
+$157k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$40,150
Earnings (5yr)
$111,198
Lifetime Value Added
+$506k
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$20,590
Earnings (5yr)
$50,100
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,364
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Educational/Instructional Media Design
MastCIP: 1305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,087
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
MastCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$123,395
Lifetime Value Added
+$610k
Engineering-Related Fields
MastCIP: 1515
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$103,078
Lifetime Value Added
+$491k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$29,037
Earnings (2yr)
$21,508
Lifetime Value Added
-$295k
Geography and Cartography
MastCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$33,662
Earnings (5yr)
$70,004
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
International Relations and National Security Studies
MastCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Landscape Architecture
MastCIP: 0406
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,439
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Library Science and Administration
MastCIP: 2501
Median Debt
$37,500
Earnings (5yr)
$49,999
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$39,251
Earnings (5yr)
$55,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$33,881
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$256k
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$131,926
Lifetime Value Added
+$682k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$34,798
Earnings (5yr)
$68,860
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$47,242
Earnings (5yr)
$83,756
Lifetime Value Added
+$271k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$104,234
Lifetime Value Added
+$446k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
MastCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,848
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
MastCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,839
Lifetime Value Added
-$186k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$26,726
Earnings (5yr)
$60,522
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$45,106
Earnings (5yr)
$53,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,585
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Doctoral Degrees
Anthropology
DocCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$60,094
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$132,367
Lifetime Value Added
+$473k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
DocCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$35,217
Earnings (5yr)
$74,023
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
DocCIP: 5102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$71,575
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$95,621
Lifetime Value Added
+$207k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
DocCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$58,673
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
History
DocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,131
Lifetime Value Added
-$230k
Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,305
Lifetime Value Added
-$272k
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$165,099
Lifetime Value Added
+$709k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$74,625
Earnings (5yr)
$122,163
Lifetime Value Added
+$400k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
DocCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,475
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language
DocCIP: 1314
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Professional Degrees
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$67,750
Earnings (5yr)
$98,007
Lifetime Value Added
+$224k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$192,899
Earnings (5yr)
$172,567
Lifetime Value Added
+$763k
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
ProfCIP: 5120
Median Debt
$129,884
Earnings (5yr)
$143,107
Lifetime Value Added
+$551k
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.