Back to Colleges
University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, CO 31,578 Undergrads 72.6% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$33,466
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$21,480
After Aid
Median Earnings
$69,738
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$21,480
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$69,738
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate72.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients14.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time94.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS78.6%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
83.3%
SAT Avg
1,353
SAT Reading
25th: 62064075th: 700
SAT Math
25th: 61064075th: 720
ACT Composite
25th: 282875th: 33
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
+$591k
+$195k
+$107k
Median Cost$21k/yr
+$514k
+$117k
+$29k
Full Cost$33k/yr
+$471k
+$74k
-$14k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
32
∞
Median Cost$21k/yr
48
38%
Full Cost$33k/yr
Never
-11%
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 Return74%
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-35%
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
Certificates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$88,729
Lifetime Value Added
+$441k
Communication and Media Studies
CertCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,616
Lifetime Value Added
+$259k
Computer Science
CertCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$97,334
Lifetime Value Added
+$523k
Economics
CertCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$87,570
Lifetime Value Added
+$430k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
CertCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,511
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Fine and Studio Arts
CertCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$66,761
Lifetime Value Added
+$231k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
CertCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,875
Lifetime Value Added
+$242k
Political Science and Government
CertCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$76,527
Lifetime Value Added
+$325k
Psychology, General
CertCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$81,052
Lifetime Value Added
+$368k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
CertCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,656
Lifetime Value Added
+$201k
Sociology
CertCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,412
Lifetime Value Added
+$118k
Bachelor's Degrees
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
BachCIP: 1402
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (5yr)
$103,431
Lifetime Value Added
+$292k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$18,583
Earnings (5yr)
$49,958
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$94,459
Lifetime Value Added
+$225k
Architectural Engineering
BachCIP: 1404
Median Debt
$14,500
Earnings (5yr)
$90,523
Lifetime Value Added
+$195k
Astronomy and Astrophysics
BachCIP: 4002
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$62,122
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Biochemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1443
Median Debt
$15,516
Earnings (5yr)
$99,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$260k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$18,487
Earnings (5yr)
$69,313
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$91,156
Lifetime Value Added
+$200k
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
BachCIP: 2604
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (5yr)
$63,623
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$23,650
Earnings (5yr)
$115,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$380k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$19,318
Earnings (5yr)
$85,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (5yr)
$66,999
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$15,303
Earnings (5yr)
$63,766
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$23,338
Earnings (5yr)
$107,650
Lifetime Value Added
+$323k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$19,687
Earnings (5yr)
$122,521
Lifetime Value Added
+$434k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$25,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$328k
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,695
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
BachCIP: 2613
Median Debt
$21,256
Earnings (5yr)
$55,519
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$15,630
Earnings (5yr)
$79,838
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$19,221
Earnings (5yr)
$107,891
Lifetime Value Added
+$325k
Engineering Physics
BachCIP: 1412
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$111,748
Lifetime Value Added
+$354k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$19,225
Earnings (5yr)
$38,936
Lifetime Value Added
-$209k
Environmental Design
BachCIP: 0404
Median Debt
$22,497
Earnings (5yr)
$68,017
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
BachCIP: 1414
Median Debt
$20,836
Earnings (5yr)
$84,918
Lifetime Value Added
+$153k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,015
Lifetime Value Added
-$200k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$44,272
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$40,219
Lifetime Value Added
-$198k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (5yr)
$55,326
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$61,825
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$15,250
Earnings (5yr)
$48,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
International/Global Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$17,340
Earnings (5yr)
$54,974
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$15,250
Earnings (5yr)
$75,662
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$18,771
Lifetime Value Added
-$373k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$39,279
Lifetime Value Added
-$206k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$19,258
Earnings (5yr)
$82,787
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$18,958
Earnings (5yr)
$91,715
Lifetime Value Added
+$204k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$31,921
Lifetime Value Added
-$269k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (5yr)
$63,863
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
BachCIP: 2615
Median Debt
$20,547
Earnings (5yr)
$69,375
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (5yr)
$54,852
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$19,306
Earnings (5yr)
$69,490
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
BachCIP: 2609
Median Debt
$19,483
Earnings (5yr)
$67,874
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$18,742
Earnings (5yr)
$74,672
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$18,794
Earnings (5yr)
$58,599
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$233k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$16,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,670
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$102,640
Lifetime Value Added
+$423k
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
MastCIP: 1402
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$128,911
Lifetime Value Added
+$647k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$114,292
Lifetime Value Added
+$522k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$90,868
Lifetime Value Added
+$321k
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
MastCIP: 1612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,134
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$68,085
Earnings (5yr)
$67,972
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$140,315
Lifetime Value Added
+$743k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,532
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
MastCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$136,752
Lifetime Value Added
+$713k
Engineering, General
MastCIP: 1401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$154,338
Lifetime Value Added
+$862k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,848
Lifetime Value Added
-$196k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,236
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
MastCIP: 1601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,251
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Mechanical Engineering
MastCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$116,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$540k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$36,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
MastCIP: 2609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$95,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$364k
Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education
MastCIP: 1309
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,088
Lifetime Value Added
+$134k
Graduate Certificates
Education, General
Gr-CertCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$60,771
Lifetime Value Added
+$168k
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
Gr-CertCIP: 2615
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$58,673
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
Doctoral Degrees
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
DocCIP: 1402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$135,638
Lifetime Value Added
+$477k
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$66,915
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
DocCIP: 5102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$98,889
Lifetime Value Added
+$211k
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
DocCIP: 2613
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,823
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Mechanical Engineering
DocCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$63,005
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$33,336
Earnings (5yr)
$52,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Political Science and Government
DocCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,451
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Sociology
DocCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,358
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Professional Degrees
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$105,696
Earnings (5yr)
$100,964
Lifetime Value Added
+$226k
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.