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University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Cincinnati, OH 29,094 Undergrads 71.2% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$28,783
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$23,156
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,810
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$23,156
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$54,810
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate71.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients19.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time89.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS76.0%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
87.7%
SAT Avg
1,281
SAT Reading
25th: 58062075th: 670
SAT Math
25th: 57063075th: 690
ACT Composite
25th: 242775th: 29
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
+$476k
+$79k
-$8k
Median Cost$23k/yr
+$393k
-$4k
-$92k
Full Cost$29k/yr
+$372k
-$24k
-$112k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$23k/yr
Never
-110%
Full Cost$29k/yr
Never
-108%
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 Return-97%
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-78%
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
Associate's Degrees
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$15,875
Earnings (5yr)
$43,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$14,750
Earnings (5yr)
$62,939
Lifetime Value Added
+$118k
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1002
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$42,759
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$14,087
Earnings (5yr)
$47,071
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$13,299
Earnings (5yr)
$55,844
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$16,590
Earnings (5yr)
$58,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$22,175
Earnings (5yr)
$49,575
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Information Science/Studies
AssocCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$12,710
Earnings (5yr)
$62,577
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$18,877
Earnings (5yr)
$34,003
Lifetime Value Added
-$162k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$17,769
Earnings (5yr)
$77,091
Lifetime Value Added
+$244k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
AssocCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$13,447
Earnings (5yr)
$38,155
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 0183
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (5yr)
$40,698
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$74,355
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
BachCIP: 1402
Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (5yr)
$86,633
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$22,166
Earnings (5yr)
$78,076
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$319k
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$22,600
Earnings (5yr)
$63,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$64,065
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
BachCIP: 1405
Median Debt
$20,625
Earnings (5yr)
$85,432
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$83,673
Lifetime Value Added
+$138k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$21,083
Earnings (5yr)
$92,906
Lifetime Value Added
+$207k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$67,758
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (5yr)
$88,041
Lifetime Value Added
+$171k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5110
Median Debt
$25,443
Earnings (5yr)
$75,664
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$21,644
Earnings (5yr)
$52,971
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$23,102
Earnings (5yr)
$57,986
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$22,400
Earnings (5yr)
$91,341
Lifetime Value Added
+$195k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$24,437
Earnings (5yr)
$49,934
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (5yr)
$69,447
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$25,706
Earnings (5yr)
$35,509
Lifetime Value Added
-$244k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$201k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$94,336
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
Engineering, General
BachCIP: 1401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$100,209
Lifetime Value Added
+$262k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$80,523
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (5yr)
$40,407
Lifetime Value Added
-$202k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$75,917
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$21,749
Earnings (5yr)
$43,997
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 5199
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$73,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$23,125
Earnings (2yr)
$36,848
Lifetime Value Added
-$213k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$58,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$88,568
Lifetime Value Added
+$175k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
$21,942
Earnings (2yr)
$26,353
Lifetime Value Added
-$309k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (2yr)
$26,353
Lifetime Value Added
-$309k
Legal Support Services
BachCIP: 2203
Median Debt
$23,376
Earnings (5yr)
$52,046
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$67,864
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$24,999
Earnings (5yr)
$90,998
Lifetime Value Added
+$193k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$35,000
Earnings (2yr)
$35,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$226k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$57,856
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$32,173
Lifetime Value Added
-$273k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$41,026
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
BachCIP: 2615
Median Debt
$23,827
Earnings (5yr)
$65,724
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Nutrition Sciences
BachCIP: 3019
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,069
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$20,359
Earnings (5yr)
$60,894
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,813
Earnings (5yr)
$48,595
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$58,784
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$20,464
Earnings (5yr)
$76,330
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,459
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (2yr)
$26,739
Lifetime Value Added
-$305k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (5yr)
$46,240
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$24,094
Earnings (2yr)
$40,458
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$47,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,924
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
PB-CertCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$85,589
Lifetime Value Added
+$364k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$18,900
Earnings (5yr)
$90,993
Lifetime Value Added
+$319k
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
MastCIP: 1402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$105,853
Lifetime Value Added
+$447k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$75,238
Lifetime Value Added
+$184k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$33,736
Earnings (5yr)
$107,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$464k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$33,020
Earnings (5yr)
$66,268
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$41,200
Earnings (5yr)
$50,705
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$38,151
Earnings (5yr)
$66,456
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (5yr)
$70,982
Lifetime Value Added
+$147k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$42,482
Earnings (5yr)
$83,433
Lifetime Value Added
+$255k
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$28,979
Earnings (2yr)
$45,864
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Mechanical Engineering
MastCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$114,633
Lifetime Value Added
+$522k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$51,500
Earnings (5yr)
$44,522
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$38,500
Earnings (5yr)
$35,957
Lifetime Value Added
-$178k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$54,666
Earnings (5yr)
$115,383
Lifetime Value Added
+$529k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$38,950
Earnings (5yr)
$58,204
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$29,125
Earnings (5yr)
$48,229
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Graduate Certificates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Gr-CertCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$50,998
Earnings (5yr)
$120,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$688k
Doctoral Degrees
Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$50,591
Earnings (2yr)
$23,351
Lifetime Value Added
-$369k
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
DocCIP: 5120
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$134,149
Lifetime Value Added
+$460k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$90,200
Earnings (2yr)
$119,805
Lifetime Value Added
+$410k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$89,318
Earnings (5yr)
$78,304
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
Professional Degrees
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$66,694
Earnings (5yr)
$85,863
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$188,938
Earnings (2yr)
$57,995
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
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.