University of California-Davis
Vs. Peer Institutions
Admissions Profile
ROI Sensitivity AnalysisAssuming 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)
ROI Efficiency Metrics
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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.
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.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Agricultural Business and Management
Agricultural Production Operations
Animal Sciences
Anthropology
Apparel and Textiles
Applied Mathematics
Area Studies
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
Biological/Biosystems Engineering
Biology, General
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
Biotechnology
Botany/Plant Biology
Business/Managerial Economics
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Cognitive Science
Communication and Media Studies
Computer and Information Sciences, General
Computer Engineering
Design and Applied Arts
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Economics
Engineering, General
English Language and Literature, General
English Language and Literature/Letters, Other
Environmental Design
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Fine and Studio Arts
Food Science and Technology
Genetics
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
History
International Agriculture
Landscape Architecture
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
Marine Sciences
Materials Engineering
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
Music
Natural Resources and Conservation, Other
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
Nutrition Sciences
Pharmacology and Toxicology
Philosophy
Physical Sciences, General
Physical Sciences, Other
Physics
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
Plant Sciences
Political Science and Government
Psychology, Other
Religion/Religious Studies
Research and Experimental Psychology
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Science, Technology and Society
Social Sciences, General
Social Sciences, Other
Sociology
Statistics
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management
Zoology/Animal Biology
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
Agricultural Business and Management
Agricultural Engineering
Animal Sciences
Anthropology
Apparel and Textiles
Applied Mathematics
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
Botany/Plant Biology
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Communication and Media Studies
Computer and Information Sciences, General
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Economics
Education, General
English Language and Literature, General
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
Fine and Studio Arts
Food Science and Technology
Genetics
Geography and Cartography
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
History
International Agriculture
Legal Professions and Studies, Other
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
Materials Engineering
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Medical Illustration and Informatics
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
Nutrition Sciences
Pharmacology and Toxicology
Philosophy
Physics
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
Plant Sciences
Political Science and Government
Public Health
Religion/Religious Studies
Research and Experimental Psychology
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Security Science and Technology
Sociology
Soil Sciences
Statistics
Textile Sciences and Engineering
Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences
Zoology/Animal Biology
Doctoral Degrees
Agricultural Business and Management
Agricultural Engineering
Animal Sciences
Anthropology
Applied Mathematics
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
Botany/Plant Biology
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Communication and Media Studies
Computer and Information Sciences, General
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Economics
Educational Administration and Supervision
Engineering Physics
English Language and Literature, General
Food Science and Technology
Genetics
Geography and Cartography
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
History
Materials Engineering
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
Music
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
Nutrition Sciences
Pharmacology and Toxicology
Philosophy
Physics
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
Plant Sciences
Political Science and Government
Psychology, Other
Religion/Religious Studies
Research and Experimental Psychology
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Sociology
Soil Sciences
Statistics
Zoology/Animal Biology
Professional Degrees
Law
Medicine
Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences
Veterinary Medicine
Other Programs
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.