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University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, MI 2,438 Undergrads 67.9% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$42,211
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$15,232
After Aid
Median Earnings
$78,953
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$15,232
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (10yr)$78,953
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate67.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients36.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time92.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS84.0%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
75.4%
SAT Avg
1,134
SAT Reading
25th: 52057575th: 630
SAT Math
25th: 51058075th: 630
ACT Composite
25th: 222675th: 28
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
+$675k
+$214k
+$197k
Median Cost$15k/yr
+$620k
+$160k
+$142k
Full Cost$42k/yr
+$523k
+$63k
+$45k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
28
∞
Median Cost$15k/yr
33
260%
Full Cost$42k/yr
47
30%
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 Return145%
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-20%
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
Certificates
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
CertCIP: 1603
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $42,213
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
CertCIP: 1611
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $58,495
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Non-Professional Legal Studies
CertCIP: 2200
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $78,149
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Religion/Religious Studies
CertCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $48,391
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
CertCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $53,696
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$62,939
Nat: $66,914
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,432
Nat: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$91,888
Nat: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$89,540
Nat: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$213k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
BachCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $50,523
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$22,032
Earnings (4yr)
$63,364
Nat: $68,061
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1603
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $51,642
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1605
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$86,600
Nat: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$191k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$104,683
Nat: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$326k
Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering
BachCIP: 1442
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $101,649
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $52,119
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Non-Professional Legal Studies
BachCIP: 2200
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $61,959
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings
-
Nat: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$25,191
Earnings (4yr)
$55,002
Nat: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$81,602
Nat: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$153k
Religion/Religious Studies
BachCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Research and Experimental Psychology
BachCIP: 4227
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$30,250
Earnings (4yr)
$50,535
Nat: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Master's Degrees
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences
MastCIP: 5105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$190,536
Nat: $235,700
Lifetime Value Added
+$1279k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
MastCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$105,783
Earnings (4yr)
$123,006
Nat: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$611k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$30,500
Earnings (4yr)
$71,282
Nat: $74,139
Lifetime Value Added
+$167k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$39,187
Earnings (4yr)
$94,382
Nat: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$366k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$57,763
Earnings (4yr)
$67,169
Nat: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
Computer Engineering
MastCIP: 1409
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
MastCIP: 1110
Median Debt
$32,779
Earnings
-
Nat: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$59,124
Nat: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
MastCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, Other
MastCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $129,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
MastCIP: 1414
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $92,629
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other
MastCIP: 4399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,586
Nat: $95,461
Lifetime Value Added
+$239k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
MastCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Management Information Systems and Services
MastCIP: 5212
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$114,205
Nat: $106,092
Lifetime Value Added
+$536k
Mechanical Engineering
MastCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
MastCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other
MastCIP: 4499
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $70,515
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,805
Nat: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$189k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$71,750
Earnings (4yr)
$125,601
Nat: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$633k
Religion/Religious Studies
MastCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $57,737
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Graduate Certificates
Accounting and Related Services
Gr-CertCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $82,363
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences
Gr-CertCIP: 5105
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $207,164
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Gr-CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, Other
Gr-CertCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $96,828
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Finance and Financial Management Services
Gr-CertCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $118,893
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
Gr-CertCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $60,655
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
Gr-CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $88,684
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Gr-CertCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Systems Engineering
Gr-CertCIP: 1427
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $148,730
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Doctoral Degrees
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
DocCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Professional Degrees
Dentistry
ProfCIP: 5104
Median Debt
$366,862
Earnings (4yr)
$173,975
Nat: $170,812
Lifetime Value Added
+$776k
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$122,626
Earnings (4yr)
$93,055
Nat: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$193k
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.