College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of Dubuque

Dubuque, IA 1,473 Undergrads 51.9% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$51,060
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$23,250
After Aid
Median Earnings
$51,190
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$23,250
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$51,190
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate51.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients41.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time85.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS75.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
86.9%
SAT Avg
1,119
SAT Reading
25th: 470-75th: 580
SAT Math
25th: 480-75th: 580
ACT Composite
25th: 19-75th: 25

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
+$447k
+$50k
-$37k
Median Cost$23k/yr
+$363k
-$33k
-$121k
Full Cost$51k/yr
+$263k
-$133k
-$221k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$23k/yr
Never
-145%
Full Cost$51k/yr
Never
-120%
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 Return-125%

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-94%
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

Bachelor's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$77,576
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Air Transportation
BachCIP: 4901
Median Debt
$25,375
Earnings (5yr)
$73,760
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$62,811
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (5yr)
$60,776
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,925
Lifetime Value Added
-$249k
Computer Software and Media Applications
BachCIP: 1108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,554
Lifetime Value Added
-$271k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$60,240
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$279k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$44,201
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$26,898
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$162k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$62,803
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$216k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$27,617
Earnings (5yr)
$67,829
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,258
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$22,862
Earnings (5yr)
$42,709
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,146
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$13,362
Earnings (5yr)
$83,731
Lifetime Value Added
+$257k
Theological and Ministerial Studies
MastCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,590
Lifetime Value Added
+$127k

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.