College ROI

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University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Little Rock, AR 4,949 Undergrads 46.9% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$22,590
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,882
After Aid
Median Earnings
$59,024
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$16,882
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$59,024
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$50,640
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate46.9%
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)25.5
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 Recipients52.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time62.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS67.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
58.8%
SAT Avg
1,049
SAT Reading
25th: 49052075th: 630
SAT Math
25th: 47051075th: 580
ACT Composite
25th: 172075th: 24

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
+$521k
+$51k
+$35k
Median Cost$17k/yr
+$460k
-$10k
-$26k
Full Cost$23k/yr
+$440k
-$30k
-$47k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
41
∞
Median Cost$17k/yr
Never
-43%
Full Cost$23k/yr
Never
-57%
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 Return-4%

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-50%

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: $53,696
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,886
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Programming
AssocCIP: 1102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,070
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,792
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,428
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$79,603
Natl Median: $64,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$280k
Median Debt
$18,774
Earnings (4yr)
$81,694
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$313k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (4yr)
$70,007
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$71k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,044
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$25,400
Earnings (4yr)
$48,606
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Median Debt
$24,563
Earnings (4yr)
$51,384
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,400
Earnings (4yr)
$46,743
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,107
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$70,696
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$76k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,894
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
BachCIP: 1510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$86,132
Natl Median: $93,843
Lifetime Value Added
+$194k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,303
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$43,990
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,599
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,610
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,526
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
Median Debt
$19,318
Earnings (4yr)
$30,592
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$259k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,245
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,276
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$27,650
Earnings (4yr)
$46,392
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,350
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$50,805
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,142
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,847
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$76,267
Natl Median: $82,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,650
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,418
Earnings (4yr)
$45,797
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,594
Natl Median: $56,615
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k
Median Debt
$20,459
Earnings (4yr)
$88,617
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$213k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$38,403
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,594
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,390
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Systems Engineering
BachCIP: 1427
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$88,715
Natl Median: $105,185
Lifetime Value Added
+$200k
Median Debt
$22,906
Earnings (4yr)
$44,978
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k

Master's Degrees

Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,060
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: $110,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$106,341
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$266k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
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
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
MastCIP: 1510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,304
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$339k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,010
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,384
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$277k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,092
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physical Sciences, General
MastCIP: 4001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,703
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$70,135
Natl Median: $70,515
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$294k
Median Debt
$69,668
Earnings (4yr)
$60,043
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$247k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$41,463
Earnings (4yr)
$64,464
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,164
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$209k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,986
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$220k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $122,843
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
Gr-CertCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,362
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
Gr-CertCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,297
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: $153,586
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,427
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,630
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,168
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$95,010
Earnings (4yr)
$78,317
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k

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.