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University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver, CO 10,686 Undergrads 49.3% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$23,369
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$19,133
After Aid
Median Earnings
$64,270
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$19,133
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$64,270
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate49.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients33.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time77.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS76.7%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
77.8%
SAT Avg
1,119
SAT Reading
25th: 50057575th: 620
SAT Math
25th: 48056575th: 600
ACT Composite
25th: 212575th: 27
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
+$550k
+$153k
+$65k
Median Cost$19k/yr
+$481k
+$85k
-$3k
Full Cost$23k/yr
+$466k
+$69k
-$19k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
36
∞
Median Cost$19k/yr
Never
-5%
Full Cost$23k/yr
Never
-22%
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 Return59%
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-33%
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
Bachelor's Degrees
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$24,116
Earnings (5yr)
$47,096
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$17,844
Earnings (5yr)
$69,045
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,358
Earnings (5yr)
$65,854
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$19,949
Earnings (5yr)
$73,108
Lifetime Value Added
+$73k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$85,398
Lifetime Value Added
+$165k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$29,605
Earnings (5yr)
$84,328
Lifetime Value Added
+$157k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$21,896
Earnings (5yr)
$57,243
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$95,300
Lifetime Value Added
+$240k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$16,035
Earnings (5yr)
$53,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$48,103
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$16,125
Earnings (5yr)
$73,274
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$29,014
Earnings (5yr)
$103,433
Lifetime Value Added
+$300k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$21,538
Earnings (5yr)
$47,668
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$50,315
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$21,464
Earnings (5yr)
$48,906
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$53,701
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$17,604
Earnings (5yr)
$45,546
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
International/Global Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$18,870
Earnings (5yr)
$48,914
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$71,496
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$24,700
Earnings (5yr)
$94,084
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,202
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$23,499
Earnings (5yr)
$36,502
Lifetime Value Added
-$221k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (5yr)
$62,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,340
Earnings (5yr)
$52,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$20,602
Earnings (5yr)
$52,941
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$21,875
Earnings (5yr)
$79,814
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Research and Experimental Psychology
BachCIP: 4227
Median Debt
$18,062
Earnings (5yr)
$55,965
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
$27,649
Earnings (5yr)
$46,400
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$53,879
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$34,612
Earnings (5yr)
$96,311
Lifetime Value Added
+$373k
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$66,290
Earnings (5yr)
$76,533
Lifetime Value Added
+$203k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$56,311
Earnings (5yr)
$129,535
Lifetime Value Added
+$656k
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
MastCIP: 2604
Median Debt
$78,201
Earnings (5yr)
$75,894
Lifetime Value Added
+$197k
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning
MastCIP: 0403
Median Debt
$63,368
Earnings (5yr)
$80,172
Lifetime Value Added
+$234k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$108,443
Lifetime Value Added
+$477k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,702
Lifetime Value Added
-$357
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$73,892
Lifetime Value Added
+$180k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$23,923
Earnings (5yr)
$68,409
Lifetime Value Added
+$133k
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$74,576
Lifetime Value Added
+$225k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$35,080
Earnings (5yr)
$89,621
Lifetime Value Added
+$315k
Engineering, General
MastCIP: 1401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$75,204
Lifetime Value Added
+$231k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Finance and Financial Management Services
MastCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$23,376
Earnings (5yr)
$119,782
Lifetime Value Added
+$574k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,025
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Information Science/Studies
MastCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$32,000
Earnings (5yr)
$111,462
Lifetime Value Added
+$502k
Landscape Architecture
MastCIP: 0406
Median Debt
$90,353
Earnings (5yr)
$70,047
Lifetime Value Added
+$147k
Library Science and Administration
MastCIP: 2501
Median Debt
$46,436
Earnings (5yr)
$81,087
Lifetime Value Added
+$242k
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$90,576
Lifetime Value Added
+$323k
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies
MastCIP: 5114
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$122,038
Lifetime Value Added
+$656k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
MastCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,823
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Political Science and Government
MastCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$65,441
Earnings (5yr)
$70,674
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$32,448
Earnings (5yr)
$78,420
Lifetime Value Added
+$219k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$60,145
Earnings (5yr)
$72,076
Lifetime Value Added
+$164k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$42,744
Earnings (5yr)
$107,608
Lifetime Value Added
+$469k
Social Sciences, General
MastCIP: 4501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$49,058
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,577
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$77,000
Earnings (5yr)
$61,053
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,589
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Graduate Certificates
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General
Gr-CertCIP: 3000
Median Debt
$36,386
Earnings (5yr)
$69,893
Lifetime Value Added
+$221k
Doctoral Degrees
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
DocCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,328
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$86,723
Lifetime Value Added
+$130k
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
DocCIP: 5120
Median Debt
$167,617
Earnings (5yr)
$144,461
Lifetime Value Added
+$549k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$65,649
Earnings (5yr)
$134,953
Lifetime Value Added
+$480k
Professional Degrees
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences
ProfCIP: 5105
Median Debt
$226,707
Earnings (5yr)
$281,479
Lifetime Value Added
+$1498k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
ProfCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$95,980
Earnings (5yr)
$113,592
Lifetime Value Added
+$326k
Dentistry
ProfCIP: 5104
Median Debt
$242,379
Earnings (5yr)
$150,043
Lifetime Value Added
+$589k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$212,811
Earnings (5yr)
$160,593
Lifetime Value Added
+$665k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
ProfCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$96,506
Earnings (5yr)
$77,481
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
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.