College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CA 22,593 Undergrads 79.1% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$38,942
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$14,304
After Aid
Median Earnings
$64,926
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$14,304
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$64,926
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$67,699
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate79.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age20.3
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients46.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time97.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS72.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
76.4%
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
+$575k
+$108k
+$90k
Median Cost$14k/yr
+$523k
+$56k
+$39k
Full Cost$39k/yr
+$435k
-$32k
-$50k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
33
∞
Median Cost$14k/yr
44
76%
Full Cost$39k/yr
Never
-36%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • 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.

Donor Return28%

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-51%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Bachelor's Degrees

Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (4yr)
$45,821
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,039
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
Median Debt
$16,958
Earnings (4yr)
$59,549
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,339
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Median Debt
$19,954
Earnings (4yr)
$90,041
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$231k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,245
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$72,027
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$64,147
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$65,813
Natl Median: $66,697
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
Median Debt
$17,182
Earnings (4yr)
$91,457
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$242k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$64,131
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,083
Earnings (4yr)
$107,193
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$362k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$117,705
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$442k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,804
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,508
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$321k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,642
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$17,666
Earnings (4yr)
$66,682
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (4yr)
$102,630
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$327k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,052
Earnings (4yr)
$50,712
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Median Debt
$18,068
Earnings (4yr)
$84,300
Natl Median: $81,171
Lifetime Value Added
+$187k
Median Debt
$22,305
Earnings (4yr)
$56,555
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Median Debt
$20,472
Earnings (4yr)
$52,699
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Median Debt
$16,681
Earnings (4yr)
$40,774
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$161k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,677
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$19,317
Earnings (4yr)
$51,913
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Median Debt
$24,417
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,829
Earnings (4yr)
$56,108
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,959
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Median Debt
$15,625
Earnings (4yr)
$62,211
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$46,306
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $91,449
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$18,100
Earnings (4yr)
$63,596
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$93,721
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$259k
Median Debt
$13,939
Earnings (4yr)
$72,295
Natl Median: $62,582
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,090
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (2yr)
$11,481
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$416k
Median Debt
$16,250
Earnings (4yr)
$64,944
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$51,865
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$19,022
Earnings (4yr)
$51,402
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Physical Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,944
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$74,410
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,740
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,416
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,161
Earnings (4yr)
$58,504
Natl Median: $73,721
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,746
Earnings (4yr)
$49,947
Natl Median: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Median Debt
$20,783
Earnings (4yr)
$35,583
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$205k
Median Debt
$17,691
Earnings (4yr)
$42,692
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,169
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,847
Natl Median: $60,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Median Debt
$16,583
Earnings (4yr)
$55,087
Natl Median: $56,812
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$16,300
Earnings (4yr)
$55,682
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
$21,488
Earnings (4yr)
$78,492
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
+$143k
Median Debt
$19,333
Earnings (4yr)
$58,463
Natl Median: $57,887
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,055
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Education, General
PB-CertCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,785
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,936
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,271
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$109,400
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
+$296k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,090
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$76,013
Earnings (4yr)
$90,857
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$134k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,468
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Dance
MastCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,404
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$25,601
Earnings (4yr)
$77,408
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$31,250
Earnings (4yr)
$122,820
Natl Median: $120,215
Lifetime Value Added
+$413k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,629
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$77,170
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,282
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$106,742
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$273k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,229
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,775
Earnings (4yr)
$76,103
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,737
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,216
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$48,635
Earnings (4yr)
$60,371
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,460
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,772
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Anthropology
DocCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,473
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,683
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $153,586
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$98,201
Natl Median: $131,848
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,507
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,578
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $141,187
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$118,789
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
+$182k
Computer Science
DocCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $178,476
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Dance
DocCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,309
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,173
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
DocCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $135,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
DocCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$105,195
Natl Median: $87,373
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $157,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$67,356
Natl Median: $65,831
Lifetime Value Added
-$200k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,271
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,039
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
DocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,771
Natl Median: $70,550
Lifetime Value Added
-$488k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,845
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
DocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,070
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Medicine
DocCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$141,628
Earnings (4yr)
$128,469
Natl Median: $118,504
Lifetime Value Added
+$253k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,435
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,592
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $87,076
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,943
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
DocCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,449
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,153
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,908
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$69,338
Natl Median: $94,835
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,164
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$119,816
Natl Median: $103,410
Lifetime Value Added
+$190k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,860
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
DocCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
DocCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $156,733
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,436
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$126,607
Natl Median: $112,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$240k

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,636
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.