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University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 33,073 Undergrads 94.0% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$42,708
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$14,979
After Aid
Median Earnings
$92,446
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$14,979
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$92,446
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate94.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients27.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time95.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS83.7%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
11.7%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -
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
+$758k
+$361k
+$273k
Median Cost$15k/yr
+$704k
+$308k
+$220k
Full Cost$43k/yr
+$604k
+$208k
+$120k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
27
∞
Median Cost$15k/yr
30
407%
Full Cost$43k/yr
39
78%
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 Return240%
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 Return11%
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
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$12,572
Earnings (5yr)
$63,390
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
$14,500
Earnings (5yr)
$144,689
Lifetime Value Added
+$621k
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$79,951
Lifetime Value Added
+$140k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$14,839
Earnings (5yr)
$92,837
Lifetime Value Added
+$236k
Astronomy and Astrophysics
BachCIP: 4002
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (2yr)
$36,848
Lifetime Value Added
-$184k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$76,503
Lifetime Value Added
+$114k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
BachCIP: 1405
Median Debt
$14,896
Earnings (5yr)
$89,225
Lifetime Value Added
+$209k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$11,300
Earnings (5yr)
$145,003
Lifetime Value Added
+$623k
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
BachCIP: 2604
Median Debt
$13,450
Earnings (5yr)
$70,181
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$18,155
Earnings (5yr)
$126,322
Lifetime Value Added
+$485k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$11,077
Earnings (5yr)
$65,228
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$14,342
Earnings (5yr)
$104,581
Lifetime Value Added
+$324k
Classical and Ancient Studies
BachCIP: 3022
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$249k
Cognitive Science
BachCIP: 3025
Median Debt
$14,589
Earnings (5yr)
$100,651
Lifetime Value Added
+$295k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$11,100
Earnings (5yr)
$93,369
Lifetime Value Added
+$240k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$13,750
Earnings (5yr)
$225,140
Lifetime Value Added
+$1207k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$15,012
Earnings (2yr)
$31,839
Lifetime Value Added
-$229k
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$72,540
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$12,650
Earnings (5yr)
$125,636
Lifetime Value Added
+$480k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$13,674
Earnings (5yr)
$240,462
Lifetime Value Added
+$1312k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$12,979
Earnings (5yr)
$59,480
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
$15,076
Earnings (5yr)
$60,614
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$38,182
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$12,464
Earnings (5yr)
$58,001
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$71,605
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$74,453
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$13,034
Earnings (5yr)
$62,873
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,312
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (5yr)
$87,173
Lifetime Value Added
+$194k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$112,325
Lifetime Value Added
+$382k
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
BachCIP: 2605
Median Debt
$14,455
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$14,500
Earnings (5yr)
$93,915
Lifetime Value Added
+$244k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$12,800
Earnings (2yr)
$24,369
Lifetime Value Added
-$297k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$12,817
Earnings (5yr)
$89,932
Lifetime Value Added
+$214k
Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate)
BachCIP: 2200
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$78,127
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
Nutrition Sciences
BachCIP: 3019
Median Debt
$14,177
Earnings (5yr)
$77,253
Lifetime Value Added
+$119k
Operations Research
BachCIP: 1437
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$76,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$149k
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
BachCIP: 3005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$75,726
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k
Pharmacology and Toxicology
BachCIP: 2610
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$13,345
Earnings (5yr)
$55,247
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (2yr)
$41,193
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$78,026
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$72,810
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$11,708
Earnings (5yr)
$81,604
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$69,742
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$11,593
Earnings (5yr)
$65,810
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
Social Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 4599
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$113,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$389k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$68,779
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$78,070
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
$15,400
Earnings (5yr)
$145,658
Lifetime Value Added
+$628k
Urban Studies/Affairs
BachCIP: 4512
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$105,067
Lifetime Value Added
+$328k
Master's Degrees
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$96,739
Lifetime Value Added
+$384k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
MastCIP: 1405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$92,632
Lifetime Value Added
+$397k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$266,651
Lifetime Value Added
+$1792k
Chemical Engineering
MastCIP: 1407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$122,239
Lifetime Value Added
+$602k
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning
MastCIP: 0403
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$99,084
Lifetime Value Added
+$404k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$107,621
Lifetime Value Added
+$477k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$76,186
Lifetime Value Added
+$207k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
MastCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$122,038
Lifetime Value Added
+$664k
Information Science/Studies
MastCIP: 1104
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$214,399
Lifetime Value Added
+$1379k
Journalism
MastCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$76,747
Lifetime Value Added
+$212k
Landscape Architecture
MastCIP: 0406
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$84,291
Lifetime Value Added
+$277k
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies
MastCIP: 2202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$79,875
Lifetime Value Added
+$281k
Mechanical Engineering
MastCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$135,617
Lifetime Value Added
+$716k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
MastCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$107,038
Lifetime Value Added
+$472k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$106,720
Lifetime Value Added
+$470k
Public Policy Analysis
MastCIP: 4405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$116,708
Lifetime Value Added
+$555k
Doctoral Degrees
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
DocCIP: 2604
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$120,275
Lifetime Value Added
+$389k
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$165,865
Lifetime Value Added
+$718k
Civil Engineering
DocCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$72,899
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Education, General
DocCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$96,664
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
History
DocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$55,964
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Mechanical Engineering
DocCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$109,763
Lifetime Value Added
+$362k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
DocCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$89,838
Lifetime Value Added
+$168k
Political Science and Government
DocCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$72,482
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
Professional Degrees
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$155,891
Earnings (5yr)
$188,806
Lifetime Value Added
+$883k
Optometry
ProfCIP: 5117
Median Debt
$151,667
Earnings (5yr)
$117,797
Lifetime Value Added
+$372k
Social Work
ProfCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$55,825
Earnings (5yr)
$87,349
Lifetime Value Added
+$150k
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.