College ROI

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University of Dayton

Dayton, OH 7,682 Undergrads 81.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$68,434
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$30,366
After Aid
Median Earnings
$81,553
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$30,366
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$81,553
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$83,775
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate81.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)19.6
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients17.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time97.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS86.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
65.5%
SAT Avg
1,335
SAT Reading
25th: 60064075th: 690
SAT Math
25th: 60065075th: 690
ACT Composite
25th: 252975th: 31

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
+$694k
+$224k
+$208k
Median Cost$30k/yr
+$585k
+$115k
+$98k
Full Cost$68k/yr
+$448k
-$22k
-$39k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
28
∞
Median Cost$30k/yr
38
90%
Full Cost$68k/yr
Never
-16%
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 Return60%

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-47%

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 →

Certificates

Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,019
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$90,314
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$177k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$67,414
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
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Median Debt
$18,250
Earnings (4yr)
$92,317
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$193k
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Median Debt
$23,375
Earnings (4yr)
$84,595
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$134k
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Median Debt
$16,250
Earnings (4yr)
$97,184
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$83,460
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
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Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$67,231
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$630
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,742
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,989
Earnings (4yr)
$116,356
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$376k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$102,468
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$270k
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Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,583
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
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Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$66,679
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,873
Natl Median: $55,753
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,448
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
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Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,502
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
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Education, Other
BachCIP: 1399
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,113
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,089
Earnings (4yr)
$95,595
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
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Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,599
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$57,868
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
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Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (4yr)
$77,318
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
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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
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$95,925
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$220k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$15,922
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$432k
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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
Median Debt
$19,463
Earnings (4yr)
$76,475
Natl Median: $61,911
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,218
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$82,332
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$84,485
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$133k
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International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,196
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$45,696
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$161k
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Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$107,354
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$307k
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Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$18,702
Earnings (4yr)
$80,677
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,987
Earnings (4yr)
$80,475
Natl Median: $82,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
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Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$88,339
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$162k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,539
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$68,731
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,909
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$66,386
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,745
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k
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Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (4yr)
$51,389
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,592
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
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Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$47,775
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$96,549
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$155k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $122,434
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$140,630
Earnings (4yr)
$121,087
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$369k
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Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$53,871
Earnings (5yr)
$102,022
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$186k
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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
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$47,312
Earnings (4yr)
$56,688
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$200k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,216
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$108,507
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$260k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$44,354
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$111,351
Natl Median: $112,282
Lifetime Value Added
+$285k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$109,841
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$253k
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Median Debt
$45,845
Earnings (4yr)
$52,889
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$236k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,024
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$87,234
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,911
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$207k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,614
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$258k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,170
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$304k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,975
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$178k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,300
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $42,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$252k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$45,808
Natl Median: $59,858
Lifetime Value Added
-$217k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,178
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,660
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$73,204
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $157,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Law
DocCIP: 2201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$78,300
Natl Median: $105,518
Lifetime Value Added
-$187k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,845
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,070
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$127,243
Earnings (4yr)
$77,589
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,982
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.