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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL 34,623 Undergrads 86.9% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$32,134
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$15,201
After Aid
Median Earnings
$81,054
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$15,201
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$81,054
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate86.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients25.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS85.0%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
43.7%
SAT Avg
1,418
SAT Reading
25th: 63068575th: 730
SAT Math
25th: 64073075th: 780
ACT Composite
25th: 293275th: 34
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
+$674k
+$278k
+$190k
Median Cost$15k/yr
+$620k
+$223k
+$135k
Full Cost$32k/yr
+$559k
+$162k
+$74k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
28
∞
Median Cost$15k/yr
33
247%
Full Cost$32k/yr
41
64%
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 Return216%
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 Return7%
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
$20,125
Earnings (5yr)
$96,827
Lifetime Value Added
+$265k
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
BachCIP: 1402
Median Debt
$23,888
Earnings (5yr)
$109,503
Lifetime Value Added
+$360k
Agricultural Business and Management
BachCIP: 0101
Median Debt
$18,721
Earnings (5yr)
$88,101
Lifetime Value Added
+$200k
Agricultural Engineering
BachCIP: 1403
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$87,830
Lifetime Value Added
+$198k
Agricultural Public Services
BachCIP: 0108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$53,114
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$15,875
Earnings (5yr)
$52,379
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,849
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,917
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
BachCIP: 4004
Median Debt
$21,334
Earnings (5yr)
$77,106
Lifetime Value Added
+$118k
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 2699
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$60,171
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
BachCIP: 1405
Median Debt
$16,850
Earnings (5yr)
$103,191
Lifetime Value Added
+$313k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$19,087
Earnings (5yr)
$95,310
Lifetime Value Added
+$254k
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
BachCIP: 2604
Median Debt
$21,350
Earnings (5yr)
$70,132
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$21,470
Earnings (5yr)
$107,589
Lifetime Value Added
+$346k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (5yr)
$75,401
Lifetime Value Added
+$105k
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning
BachCIP: 0403
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$90,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$220k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$18,850
Earnings (5yr)
$71,207
Lifetime Value Added
+$73k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$67,270
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$136,097
Lifetime Value Added
+$557k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$18,983
Earnings (5yr)
$170,405
Lifetime Value Added
+$810k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$18,178
Earnings (5yr)
$70,046
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$38,862
Lifetime Value Added
-$187k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$91,191
Lifetime Value Added
+$223k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$103,028
Lifetime Value Added
+$312k
Engineering Mechanics
BachCIP: 1411
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$74,307
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
Engineering Physics
BachCIP: 1412
Median Debt
$20,136
Earnings (5yr)
$109,155
Lifetime Value Added
+$357k
Engineering, General
BachCIP: 1401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$97,866
Lifetime Value Added
+$273k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$60,391
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$118,286
Lifetime Value Added
+$425k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$21,356
Earnings (5yr)
$33,080
Lifetime Value Added
-$236k
Food Science and Technology
BachCIP: 0110
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$60,678
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$24,623
Earnings (2yr)
$31,133
Lifetime Value Added
-$236k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$21,875
Earnings (2yr)
$32,569
Lifetime Value Added
-$223k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$19,986
Earnings (5yr)
$74,221
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
BachCIP: 5100
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (5yr)
$76,828
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$18,066
Earnings (5yr)
$58,586
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$17,968
Earnings (5yr)
$64,921
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Industrial Engineering
BachCIP: 1435
Median Debt
$21,299
Earnings (5yr)
$98,221
Lifetime Value Added
+$276k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$57,331
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$48,264
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$19,300
Earnings (5yr)
$115,128
Lifetime Value Added
+$402k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
BachCIP: 5213
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$100,568
Lifetime Value Added
+$293k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$89,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$208k
Materials Engineering
BachCIP: 1418
Median Debt
$17,350
Earnings (5yr)
$96,928
Lifetime Value Added
+$266k
Mathematics and Computer Science
BachCIP: 3008
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (2yr)
$103,078
Lifetime Value Added
+$359k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$20,844
Earnings (5yr)
$81,840
Lifetime Value Added
+$153k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$20,193
Earnings (5yr)
$96,770
Lifetime Value Added
+$265k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$24,148
Earnings (5yr)
$32,182
Lifetime Value Added
-$244k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$18,925
Earnings (5yr)
$58,105
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Nuclear Engineering
BachCIP: 1423
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (2yr)
$69,535
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies
BachCIP: 3101
Median Debt
$22,564
Earnings (5yr)
$63,748
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$18,413
Earnings (2yr)
$28,598
Lifetime Value Added
-$260k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$72,340
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
$15,750
Earnings (5yr)
$67,313
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$19,201
Earnings (5yr)
$74,311
Lifetime Value Added
+$97k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,866
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$19,728
Earnings (5yr)
$71,261
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$21,875
Earnings (5yr)
$75,277
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
$20,175
Earnings (5yr)
$47,544
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$21,254
Earnings (5yr)
$62,665
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$17,850
Earnings (5yr)
$59,589
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$61,548
Lifetime Value Added
-$645
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$18,925
Earnings (5yr)
$67,699
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$104,911
Lifetime Value Added
+$326k
Systems Science and Theory
BachCIP: 3006
Median Debt
$20,350
Earnings (5yr)
$59,488
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$18,425
Earnings (5yr)
$52,589
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$50,026
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$110,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$499k
Animal Sciences
MastCIP: 0109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$69,338
Lifetime Value Added
+$184k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$72,830
Lifetime Value Added
+$178k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$37,154
Earnings (5yr)
$140,412
Lifetime Value Added
+$756k
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning
MastCIP: 0403
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$87,793
Lifetime Value Added
+$307k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (5yr)
$98,700
Lifetime Value Added
+$400k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$18,835
Earnings (5yr)
$201,739
Lifetime Value Added
+$1274k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
MastCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$32,938
Lifetime Value Added
-$193k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$20,641
Earnings (5yr)
$66,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$123k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,089
Lifetime Value Added
+$128k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
MastCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$103,078
Lifetime Value Added
+$492k
Engineering-Related Fields
MastCIP: 1515
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$104,381
Lifetime Value Added
+$449k
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
MastCIP: 1414
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$65,905
Lifetime Value Added
+$153k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$27,494
Lifetime Value Added
-$230k
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$50,712
Earnings (5yr)
$124,896
Lifetime Value Added
+$624k
Library Science and Administration
MastCIP: 2501
Median Debt
$38,712
Earnings (5yr)
$59,296
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
MastCIP: 1601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Mechanical Engineering
MastCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$128,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$655k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (5yr)
$51,570
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies
MastCIP: 3101
Median Debt
$30,099
Earnings (5yr)
$61,865
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$35,500
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education
MastCIP: 1309
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$45,732
Earnings (5yr)
$60,424
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$83,768
Lifetime Value Added
+$316k
Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$142,692
Lifetime Value Added
+$775k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$78,567
Lifetime Value Added
+$227k
Doctoral Degrees
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$108,980
Lifetime Value Added
+$307k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
DocCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$134,287
Lifetime Value Added
+$549k
Law
DocCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$77,159
Earnings (5yr)
$131,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$469k
Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$60,178
Earnings (5yr)
$50,581
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$56,415
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education
DocCIP: 1309
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$92,925
Lifetime Value Added
+$190k
Veterinary Medicine
DocCIP: 0180
Median Debt
$196,772
Earnings (5yr)
$119,056
Lifetime Value Added
+$380k
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.