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University of Delaware
Newark, DE 18,812 Undergrads 81.8% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$29,347
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,931
After Aid
Median Earnings
$72,950
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$16,931
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$72,950
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate81.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients16.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time96.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS82.8%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
65.1%
SAT Avg
1,297
SAT Reading
25th: 61062875th: 680
SAT Math
25th: 59062075th: 680
ACT Composite
25th: 272975th: 31
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
+$615k
+$218k
+$130k
Median Cost$17k/yr
+$554k
+$157k
+$69k
Full Cost$29k/yr
+$509k
+$113k
+$25k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
30
∞
Median Cost$17k/yr
39
114%
Full Cost$29k/yr
51
23%
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 Return140%
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-14%
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
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$6,273
Earnings (5yr)
$42,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$26,301
Earnings (5yr)
$106,304
Lifetime Value Added
+$330k
Agriculture, General
BachCIP: 0100
Median Debt
$24,408
Earnings (2yr)
$33,281
Lifetime Value Added
-$223k
Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs
BachCIP: 0113
Median Debt
$24,750
Earnings (5yr)
$75,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$22,683
Earnings (2yr)
$30,409
Lifetime Value Added
-$249k
Apparel and Textiles
BachCIP: 1909
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$75,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$24,235
Earnings (5yr)
$78,770
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
BachCIP: 1405
Median Debt
$25,752
Earnings (5yr)
$91,058
Lifetime Value Added
+$216k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$23,302
Earnings (5yr)
$90,549
Lifetime Value Added
+$212k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$94,396
Lifetime Value Added
+$241k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$24,597
Earnings (5yr)
$77,070
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$88,414
Lifetime Value Added
+$196k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5110
Median Debt
$25,908
Earnings (5yr)
$75,443
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
Cognitive Science
BachCIP: 3025
Median Debt
$25,334
Earnings (5yr)
$69,292
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$24,296
Earnings (5yr)
$75,745
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$25,261
Earnings (5yr)
$111,532
Lifetime Value Added
+$369k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$23,375
Earnings (5yr)
$64,949
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$70,925
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
BachCIP: 5131
Median Debt
$25,908
Earnings (5yr)
$57,328
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$84,140
Lifetime Value Added
+$164k
Educational Administration and Supervision
BachCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$70,415
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$115,483
Lifetime Value Added
+$398k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (5yr)
$60,118
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
BachCIP: 1414
Median Debt
$26,950
Earnings (5yr)
$82,285
Lifetime Value Added
+$150k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$23,495
Earnings (5yr)
$99,240
Lifetime Value Added
+$277k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$24,998
Earnings (5yr)
$46,082
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$81,053
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$22,518
Earnings (5yr)
$56,763
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$22,850
Earnings (5yr)
$72,901
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Human Services, General
BachCIP: 4400
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$53,343
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (2yr)
$53,358
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$24,748
Earnings (5yr)
$56,318
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,971
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$75,637
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$25,182
Earnings (5yr)
$107,566
Lifetime Value Added
+$339k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$24,499
Earnings (5yr)
$97,490
Lifetime Value Added
+$264k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$92,170
Lifetime Value Added
+$224k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$91,595
Lifetime Value Added
+$220k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$62,519
Lifetime Value Added
+$742
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
BachCIP: 2615
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$81,434
Lifetime Value Added
+$144k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$79,001
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$24,336
Earnings (5yr)
$63,636
Lifetime Value Added
+$9k
Public Policy Analysis
BachCIP: 4405
Median Debt
$25,195
Earnings (5yr)
$67,947
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$25,954
Earnings (5yr)
$93,619
Lifetime Value Added
+$235k
Research and Experimental Psychology
BachCIP: 4227
Median Debt
$23,883
Earnings (5yr)
$61,576
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$23,197
Earnings (5yr)
$60,435
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$25,908
Earnings (5yr)
$56,546
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$26,298
Earnings (5yr)
$62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management
BachCIP: 0306
Median Debt
$25,130
Earnings (5yr)
$46,434
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
PB-CertCIP: 5131
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,250
Lifetime Value Added
+$217k
Master's Degrees
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$28,282
Earnings (5yr)
$123,409
Lifetime Value Added
+$608k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$86,905
Lifetime Value Added
+$296k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,771
Lifetime Value Added
-$199k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$93,342
Lifetime Value Added
+$400k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$25,685
Earnings (5yr)
$62,292
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Graduate Certificates
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
Gr-CertCIP: 5131
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,555
Lifetime Value Added
+$114k
Doctoral Degrees
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$79,718
Earnings (5yr)
$88,095
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
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.