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University of Houston-Clear Lake
Houston, TX 6,082 Undergrads 63.2% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$23,788
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$11,056
After Aid
Median Earnings
$59,004
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$11,056
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$59,004
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate63.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients44.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time52.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS76.9%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
75.3%
SAT Avg
1,105
SAT Reading
25th: 50053975th: 590
SAT Math
25th: 49053575th: 580
ACT Composite
25th: 182075th: 23
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
+$509k
+$113k
+$25k
Median Cost$11k/yr
+$469k
+$73k
-$15k
Full Cost$24k/yr
+$423k
+$27k
-$61k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
44
∞
Median Cost$11k/yr
Never
-38%
Full Cost$24k/yr
Never
-71%
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-29%
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-56%
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
$18,006
Earnings (5yr)
$69,429
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Behavioral Sciences
BachCIP: 3017
Median Debt
$21,936
Earnings (2yr)
$32,284
Lifetime Value Added
-$211k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$15,250
Earnings (5yr)
$55,177
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$15,875
Earnings (5yr)
$63,195
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$18,812
Earnings (5yr)
$85,375
Lifetime Value Added
+$194k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$17,984
Earnings (5yr)
$56,106
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$27,541
Earnings (5yr)
$56,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (5yr)
$90,291
Lifetime Value Added
+$231k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (5yr)
$54,539
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$14,125
Earnings (5yr)
$56,987
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (5yr)
$64,524
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$20,041
Earnings (5yr)
$49,518
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$18,625
Earnings (5yr)
$63,785
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (5yr)
$53,687
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (5yr)
$51,823
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Legal Support Services
BachCIP: 2203
Median Debt
$17,325
Earnings (5yr)
$58,366
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$79,997
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$11,875
Earnings (5yr)
$55,973
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$15,375
Earnings (5yr)
$60,011
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$18,758
Earnings (5yr)
$57,855
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,590
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$17,884
Earnings (5yr)
$51,609
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,113
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$27,020
Earnings (5yr)
$81,936
Lifetime Value Added
+$264k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$25,790
Earnings (5yr)
$104,040
Lifetime Value Added
+$454k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$73,756
Lifetime Value Added
+$194k
Communications Technology/Technician
MastCIP: 1001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Criminology
MastCIP: 4504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$24,023
Earnings (5yr)
$73,382
Lifetime Value Added
+$190k
Educational/Instructional Media Design
MastCIP: 1305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,270
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Engineering-Related Fields
MastCIP: 1515
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$103,078
Lifetime Value Added
+$500k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$31,778
Earnings (5yr)
$95,231
Lifetime Value Added
+$378k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,478
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$49,058
Lifetime Value Added
-$902
Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies
MastCIP: 3023
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$58,221
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
Library Science and Administration
MastCIP: 2501
Median Debt
$20,018
Earnings (2yr)
$54,739
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$45,531
Earnings (2yr)
$31,133
Lifetime Value Added
-$184k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
MastCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$74,180
Lifetime Value Added
+$197k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$29,222
Earnings (5yr)
$52,449
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,189
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
Doctoral Degrees
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$87,694
Lifetime Value Added
+$167k
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.