College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of Chicago

Chicago, IL 7,569 Undergrads 96.0% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$94,971
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,776
After Aid
Median Earnings
$102,231
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$16,776
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$102,231
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$103,872
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate96.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)20.0
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients16.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS83.7%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
4.5%
SAT Avg
1,554
SAT Reading
25th: 74076075th: 780
SAT Math
25th: 77079075th: 800
ACT Composite
25th: 343575th: 35

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
+$849k
+$379k
+$362k
Median Cost$17k/yr
+$788k
+$318k
+$302k
Full Cost$95k/yr
+$507k
+$37k
+$21k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
26
∞
Median Cost$17k/yr
28
500%
Full Cost$95k/yr
58
6%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
  • 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 Return100%

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-37%

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 →

Bachelor's Degrees

Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,670
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$238k
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Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,794
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,898
Natl Median: $50,523
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$14,037
Earnings (4yr)
$178,068
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$887k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,642
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$159,578
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$749k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$78,169
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
+$134k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,330
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,674
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$193k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$96,510
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$274k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$78,070
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$172,826
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$848k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,612
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,709
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
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Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$101,865
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$299k
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Median Debt
$14,928
Earnings (4yr)
$87,869
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$208k
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Median Debt
$12,250
Earnings (4yr)
$94,237
Natl Median: $73,721
Lifetime Value Added
+$256k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,483
Natl Median: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,169
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,812
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,432
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
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Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$130,189
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
+$529k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,535
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $47,629
Lifetime Value Added
-$178k
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Master's Degrees

Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
$52,028
Earnings (5yr)
$188,202
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
+$940k
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Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$70,631
Natl Median: $68,936
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,271
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$54,728
Earnings (4yr)
$126,821
Natl Median: $110,121
Lifetime Value Added
+$444k
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Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (4yr)
$243,256
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$1430k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,988
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,837
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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: $58,499
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$51,847
Earnings (4yr)
$179,964
Natl Median: $148,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$901k
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Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$69,006
Earnings (4yr)
$169,765
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$814k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$128,337
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
+$457k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $70,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$384k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Genetics
MastCIP: 2608
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,660
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
$47,500
Earnings (4yr)
$83,492
Natl Median: $95,627
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$68,253
Earnings (4yr)
$60,106
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,750
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
MastCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physical Sciences, General
MastCIP: 4001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,703
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: $67,681
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$58,891
Earnings (4yr)
$112,727
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
+$322k
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Median Debt
$59,413
Earnings (4yr)
$74,690
Natl Median: $65,443
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
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Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$66,000
Earnings (4yr)
$71,980
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
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Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
$71,928
Earnings (4yr)
$161,842
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
+$746k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,033
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,796
Natl Median: $61,300
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k
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Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,168
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: $92,233
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,683
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $149,621
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)
-
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
DocCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $178,476
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,831
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,797
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,718
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Genetics
DocCIP: 2608
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $102,123
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,039
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,725
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
DocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,260
Natl Median: $70,550
Lifetime Value Added
-$180k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $113,071
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,285
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: $101,435
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$63,005
Natl Median: $74,328
Lifetime Value Added
-$223k
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Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,592
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Nutrition Sciences
DocCIP: 3019
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,750
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: $93,640
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$74,576
Natl Median: $90,908
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $119,220
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,410
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,860
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,812
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,523
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
DocCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,285
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)
$83,657
Natl Median: $71,982
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
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Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$204,803
Earnings (4yr)
$279,203
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$1313k
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Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$128,833
Earnings (4yr)
$101,675
Natl Median: $112,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
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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.