College ROI

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University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Denver, CO 10,519 Undergrads 51.1% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$24,902
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$11,900
After Aid
Median Earnings
$74,059
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$11,900
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$74,059
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$64,270
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate51.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age24.2
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients33.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time78.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS76.7%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
74.7%
SAT Avg
1,116
SAT Reading
25th: 49057575th: 620
SAT Math
25th: 49056575th: 600
ACT Composite
25th: 232575th: 32

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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$645k
+$178k
+$160k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$602k
+$135k
+$118k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$555k
+$88k
+$71k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
29
∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
34
275%
Full Cost$25k/yr
41
79%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return246%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return20%
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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Certificates

Median Debt
$18,702
Earnings (4yr)
$82,891
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$410k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$48,732
Natl Median: $61,679
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k

Bachelor's Degrees

Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$24,116
Earnings (5yr)
$47,096
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$17,844
Earnings (4yr)
$62,619
Natl Median: $66,914
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,358
Earnings (4yr)
$58,231
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Median Debt
$26,840
Earnings (4yr)
$86,190
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$210k
Median Debt
$19,949
Earnings (4yr)
$75,142
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,964
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$29,605
Earnings (4yr)
$92,224
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$256k
Median Debt
$21,896
Earnings (4yr)
$62,882
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$112,754
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$413k
Median Debt
$16,035
Earnings (4yr)
$61,192
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$47,878
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$16,125
Earnings (4yr)
$71,385
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$97k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$23,635
Earnings (4yr)
$50,728
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Median Debt
$29,014
Earnings (4yr)
$110,754
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$398k
Median Debt
$21,538
Earnings (4yr)
$54,500
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$50,315
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Median Debt
$21,464
Earnings (4yr)
$49,842
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,285
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Median Debt
$19,090
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$17,604
Earnings (4yr)
$53,686
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Median Debt
$21,132
Earnings (4yr)
$55,181
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$18,870
Earnings (4yr)
$61,344
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$62,085
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Median Debt
$24,700
Earnings (4yr)
$94,320
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$272k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,202
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$23,499
Earnings (4yr)
$46,532
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,854
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$725
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,340
Earnings (4yr)
$52,990
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,630
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$20,602
Earnings (4yr)
$58,310
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Median Debt
$21,875
Earnings (4yr)
$84,950
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$201k
Median Debt
$18,062
Earnings (5yr)
$55,965
Natl Median: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Median Debt
$27,649
Earnings (4yr)
$55,361
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,619
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$34,612
Earnings (4yr)
$106,530
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$275k
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
-$283k
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$66,290
Earnings (4yr)
$74,820
Natl Median: $74,139
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biotechnology
MastCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,591
Natl Median: $107,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Median Debt
$56,311
Earnings (4yr)
$129,423
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$474k
Median Debt
$78,201
Earnings (5yr)
$75,894
Natl Median: $76,837
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$63,368
Earnings (4yr)
$84,407
Natl Median: $79,665
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$90,072
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,702
Natl Median: $63,761
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,655
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Median Debt
$23,923
Earnings (4yr)
$67,259
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$74,576
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$27,991
Earnings (4yr)
$53,089
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$199k
Median Debt
$35,080
Earnings (4yr)
$97,868
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$200k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$140,670
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$572k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$75,204
Natl Median: $120,215
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$328k
Median Debt
$23,376
Earnings (4yr)
$134,158
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
+$515k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,651
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,149
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,496
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,025
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$300k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$100,997
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
+$227k
Median Debt
$32,000
Earnings (4yr)
$118,649
Natl Median: $112,705
Lifetime Value Added
+$381k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$90,353
Earnings (4yr)
$78,742
Natl Median: $70,306
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$46,436
Earnings (4yr)
$74,359
Natl Median: $56,301
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$133,594
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$510k
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$90,576
Natl Median: $79,106
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$175,290
Natl Median: $198,417
Lifetime Value Added
+$871k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$77,438
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Median Debt
$65,441
Earnings (4yr)
$64,565
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Median Debt
$32,448
Earnings (4yr)
$85,272
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$60,145
Earnings (4yr)
$78,998
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Median Debt
$42,744
Earnings (4yr)
$116,093
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$359k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$49,058
Natl Median: $65,443
Lifetime Value Added
-$219k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,577
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$77,000
Earnings (4yr)
$63,098
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $114,810
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,383
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $117,834
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$36,386
Earnings (4yr)
$64,358
Natl Median: $64,492
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Public Health
Gr-CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$22,216
Earnings (4yr)
$73,319
Natl Median: $88,684
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$116,288
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
+$465k

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,729
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $104,514
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,683
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,096
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,848
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,578
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
DocCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,497
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $154,538
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,173
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$85,570
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,482
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: $101,669
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,755
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Medicine
DocCIP: 5112
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $118,504
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,435
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
Median Debt
$167,617
Earnings (4yr)
$143,753
Natl Median: $136,696
Lifetime Value Added
+$374k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,640
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,464
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
DocCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,962
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$65,649
Earnings (4yr)
$131,857
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$287k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Median Debt
$226,707
Earnings (4yr)
$206,288
Natl Median: $242,548
Lifetime Value Added
+$831k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,819
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$95,980
Earnings (4yr)
$115,870
Natl Median: $127,648
Lifetime Value Added
+$169k
Dentistry
ProfCIP: 5104
Median Debt
$242,379
Earnings (4yr)
$162,753
Natl Median: $170,812
Lifetime Value Added
+$514k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$212,811
Earnings (4yr)
$104,201
Natl Median: $112,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Median Debt
$96,506
Earnings (4yr)
$75,887
Natl Median: $81,641
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,964
Natl Median: $84,126
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
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.