College ROI

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University of Houston-Clear Lake

Houston, TX 6,078 Undergrads 63.8% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$24,622
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$15,563
After Aid
Median Earnings
$59,865
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$15,563
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$59,865
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$59,004
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate63.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age27.6
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients44.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time52.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS76.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
90.5%
SAT Avg
1,060
SAT Reading
25th: 49053975th: 580
SAT Math
25th: 48053575th: 570
ACT Composite
25th: 202075th: 25

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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$535k
+$68k
+$50k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$479k
+$12k
-$6k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$446k
-$21k
-$38k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
38
∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
Never
-10%
Full Cost$25k/yr
Never
-43%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return20%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-44%
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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$18,006
Earnings (4yr)
$70,134
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Behavioral Sciences
BachCIP: 3017
Median Debt
$21,936
Earnings (4yr)
$51,151
Natl Median: $48,673
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$15,250
Earnings (4yr)
$64,555
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Median Debt
$15,875
Earnings (4yr)
$62,046
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Median Debt
$18,812
Earnings (4yr)
$71,973
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,984
Earnings (4yr)
$49,841
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Median Debt
$27,541
Earnings (4yr)
$75,617
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$116k
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$79,710
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$16,915
Earnings (4yr)
$77,073
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$128k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (4yr)
$52,087
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,497
Natl Median: $48,878
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Median Debt
$14,125
Earnings (4yr)
$57,052
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (4yr)
$74,949
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Median Debt
$20,041
Earnings (4yr)
$38,330
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$186k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,625
Earnings (4yr)
$60,419
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$1k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$57,675
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,325
Earnings (4yr)
$52,230
Natl Median: $53,266
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,352
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$11,875
Earnings (4yr)
$55,280
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$15,375
Earnings (4yr)
$60,050
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Median Debt
$18,758
Earnings (4yr)
$57,065
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,258
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$114k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$17,884
Earnings (4yr)
$48,885
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$103,991
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$333k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,513
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,083
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$27,020
Earnings (4yr)
$89,953
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Behavioral Sciences
MastCIP: 3017
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,111
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$31,500
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biotechnology
MastCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,682
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,790
Earnings (4yr)
$100,281
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$214k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$72,708
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Communications Technologies/Technicians
MastCIP: 1001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,303
Natl Median: $71,506
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminology
MastCIP: 4504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,408
Natl Median: $67,647
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,747
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Median Debt
$24,023
Earnings (4yr)
$72,586
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,270
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$213k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$103,078
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
+$275k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$107,792
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
+$280k
Median Debt
$31,778
Earnings (4yr)
$80,794
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$49,058
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$225k
Median Debt
$35,412
Earnings (4yr)
$80,692
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$58,221
Natl Median: $63,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,018
Earnings (4yr)
$65,861
Natl Median: $56,301
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$45,531
Earnings (4yr)
$57,552
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$94,092
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,681
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$29,222
Earnings (4yr)
$70,718
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,478
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$251k
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,849
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Systems Engineering
MastCIP: 1427
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $144,565
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,591
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$220k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,031
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$101,723
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k

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.