College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of Denver

Denver, CO 6,025 Undergrads 75.8% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$78,476
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$36,131
After Aid
Median Earnings
$78,504
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$36,131
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$78,504
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$71,155
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate75.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age20.3
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients15.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time95.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS79.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
77.8%
SAT Avg
1,355
SAT Reading
25th: 64065575th: 710
SAT Math
25th: 60064075th: 700
ACT Composite
25th: 282975th: 33

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
+$679k
+$212k
+$194k
Median Cost$36k/yr
+$549k
+$82k
+$64k
Full Cost$78k/yr
+$396k
-$70k
-$88k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
28
∞
Median Cost$36k/yr
43
50%
Full Cost$78k/yr
Never
-31%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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 Return32%

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-55%
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

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$15,830
Earnings (4yr)
$96,903
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$205k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,139
Earnings (4yr)
$69,725
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,891
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,513
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$71,247
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Median Debt
$20,948
Earnings (4yr)
$74,033
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,666
Earnings (4yr)
$63,374
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$21,053
Earnings (4yr)
$121,993
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$395k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,929
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,124
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,858
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,251
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$84,328
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$109k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,083
Earnings (4yr)
$49,287
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$413k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$99,135
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$222k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$366k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,923
Earnings (4yr)
$75,118
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,742
Earnings (4yr)
$80,511
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$59,895
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,844
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$104,087
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$260k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (4yr)
$74,173
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,248
Earnings (4yr)
$93,026
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$175k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$23,559
Earnings (4yr)
$48,461
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
Median Debt
$24,750
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$218k
Non-Professional Legal Studies
BachCIP: 2200
Median Debt
$20,063
Earnings (4yr)
$63,727
Natl Median: $61,959
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
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
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$66,288
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,161
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,721
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Real Estate
BachCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$87,026
Natl Median: $84,821
Lifetime Value Added
+$130k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,866
Earnings (4yr)
$61,241
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,169
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$325k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$105,291
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$220k
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,927
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
-$356k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,271
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$38,803
Earnings (4yr)
$120,934
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$356k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$66,687
Earnings (4yr)
$133,993
Natl Median: $125,988
Lifetime Value Added
+$469k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$103,418
Earnings (4yr)
$68,815
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Median Debt
$47,481
Earnings (4yr)
$86,020
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$73,941
Natl Median: $85,444
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Median Debt
$46,680
Earnings (4yr)
$105,701
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$224k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,426
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,073
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$56,942
Earnings (4yr)
$82,777
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Median Debt
$40,794
Earnings (4yr)
$69,997
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,232
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, Other
MastCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $129,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
MastCIP: 0302
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$88,331
Natl Median: $72,563
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$97,649
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
+$153k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$39,198
Earnings (4yr)
$90,604
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Median Debt
$39,982
Earnings (4yr)
$95,942
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$138k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$98,197
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$59,948
Natl Median: $99,323
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Median Debt
$94,837
Earnings (4yr)
$74,159
Natl Median: $95,627
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
International/Globalization Studies
MastCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,493
Natl Median: $86,219
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,855
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$107,540
Natl Median: $101,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$240k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,360
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
Median Debt
$57,905
Earnings (4yr)
$56,359
Natl Median: $56,301
Lifetime Value Added
-$213k
Median Debt
$51,602
Earnings (4yr)
$141,132
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$531k
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$62,723
Earnings (4yr)
$94,307
Natl Median: $79,106
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,050
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$244k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,267
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, Other
MastCIP: 4299
Median Debt
$126,231
Earnings (4yr)
$60,246
Natl Median: $61,796
Lifetime Value Added
-$177k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$281k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,432
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
-$269k
Real Estate
MastCIP: 5215
Median Debt
$56,614
Earnings (4yr)
$103,304
Natl Median: $135,104
Lifetime Value Added
+$203k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,737
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$50,797
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$79,000
Earnings (4yr)
$65,203
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
$29,789
Earnings (4yr)
$114,544
Natl Median: $114,810
Lifetime Value Added
+$301k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$127,895
Earnings (5yr)
$68,479
Natl Median: $65,509
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$45,655
Natl Median: $85,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$223k
Median Debt
$38,194
Earnings (4yr)
$93,919
Natl Median: $112,196
Lifetime Value Added
+$231k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$32,206
Earnings (4yr)
$61,141
Natl Median: $69,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Median Debt
$30,504
Earnings (4yr)
$83,567
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
+$132k
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
Gr-CertCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,887
Natl Median: $72,516
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Median Debt
$33,952
Earnings (4yr)
$85,219
Natl Median: $72,959
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,117
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
Gr-CertCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $91,589
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
Gr-CertCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,504
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,611
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,147
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,683
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$168,425
Earnings (4yr)
$90,551
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,931
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$84,653
Natl Median: $83,031
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Median Debt
$74,713
Earnings (4yr)
$100,726
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,550
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, Other
DocCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $140,028
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$49,058
Natl Median: $65,831
Lifetime Value Added
-$407k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,694
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Materials Sciences
DocCIP: 4010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $144,084
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
DocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,070
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,153
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$76,247
Natl Median: $67,164
Lifetime Value Added
-$223k
Social Work
DocCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$161,053
Earnings (4yr)
$103,145
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k

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.