University of Houston-Downtown
Vs. Peer Institutions
Admissions Profile
ROI Sensitivity AnalysisAssuming 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)
ROI Efficiency Metrics
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.⚠️ 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
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.
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.
Program ROI Analysis
These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
Biological and Physical Sciences
Biology, General
Biotechnology
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Business/Commerce, General
Chemistry
Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians
Communication and Media Studies
Computer and Information Sciences, General
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians
Criminal Justice and Corrections
English Language and Literature, General
Finance and Financial Management Services
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
History
Insurance
International Business
Management Information Systems and Services
Marketing
Mathematics
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
Philosophy
Political Science and Government
Psychology, General
Public Health
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Social Sciences, General
Social Work
Sociology
Visual and Performing Arts, General
Master's Degrees
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Curriculum and Instruction
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
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.