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University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS 19,857 Undergrads 65.2% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$25,215
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$17,365
After Aid
Median Earnings
$61,945
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$17,365
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$61,945
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate65.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients20.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time91.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS78.9%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
88.2%
SAT Avg
1,186
SAT Reading
25th: 53060575th: 650
SAT Math
25th: 52060575th: 640
ACT Composite
25th: 212575th: 27
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
+$532k
+$136k
+$48k
Median Cost$17k/yr
+$470k
+$73k
-$15k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$441k
+$45k
-$43k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
38
∞
Median Cost$17k/yr
Never
-24%
Full Cost$25k/yr
Never
-48%
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 Return12%
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-47%
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
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$79,167
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
BachCIP: 1402
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$24,625
Earnings (5yr)
$64,111
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$26,875
Earnings (2yr)
$23,803
Lifetime Value Added
-$311k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,851
Lifetime Value Added
-$238k
Behavioral Sciences
BachCIP: 3017
Median Debt
$23,600
Earnings (5yr)
$50,529
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$18,250
Earnings (5yr)
$70,115
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,374
Earnings (5yr)
$60,261
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$85,307
Lifetime Value Added
+$171k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$20,829
Earnings (5yr)
$67,236
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$86,557
Lifetime Value Added
+$181k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,193
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$89,289
Lifetime Value Added
+$201k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$18,811
Earnings (5yr)
$60,475
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$59,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$25,811
Earnings (5yr)
$94,912
Lifetime Value Added
+$243k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$57,249
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,270
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$24,650
Earnings (5yr)
$77,286
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (5yr)
$98,959
Lifetime Value Added
+$273k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (5yr)
$42,597
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$36,506
Lifetime Value Added
-$215k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$20,218
Earnings (5yr)
$90,997
Lifetime Value Added
+$214k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (5yr)
$34,492
Lifetime Value Added
-$232k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$73,613
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$21,695
Earnings (2yr)
$26,353
Lifetime Value Added
-$288k
Human Biology
BachCIP: 3027
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (2yr)
$28,598
Lifetime Value Added
-$267k
International/Global Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,343
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (5yr)
$62,205
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$19,282
Earnings (5yr)
$57,045
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$21,700
Earnings (5yr)
$81,103
Lifetime Value Added
+$140k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$21,893
Earnings (5yr)
$83,828
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$39,927
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$94,190
Lifetime Value Added
+$238k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$22,784
Earnings (5yr)
$69,335
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
BachCIP: 2605
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$218k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$18,641
Earnings (2yr)
$26,585
Lifetime Value Added
-$286k
Petroleum Engineering
BachCIP: 1425
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$93,860
Lifetime Value Added
+$235k
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
BachCIP: 5120
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$139,238
Lifetime Value Added
+$572k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$20,125
Earnings (5yr)
$67,019
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$49,969
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Public Administration
BachCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,908
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$82,749
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
BachCIP: 5123
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,157
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,919
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$45,517
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$22,251
Earnings (5yr)
$60,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (5yr)
$48,044
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$14,800
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$180k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$89,276
Lifetime Value Added
+$315k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$71,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$32,322
Earnings (5yr)
$108,369
Lifetime Value Added
+$479k
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning
MastCIP: 0403
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,179
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$40,180
Earnings (5yr)
$54,036
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$26,923
Earnings (5yr)
$54,892
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Engineering-Related Fields
MastCIP: 1515
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$106,421
Lifetime Value Added
+$518k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$62,260
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$271k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$30,901
Earnings (2yr)
$55,512
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (5yr)
$55,237
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$30,256
Earnings (5yr)
$57,755
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$29,867
Earnings (5yr)
$58,818
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Graduate Certificates
Special Education and Teaching
Gr-CertCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
Doctoral Degrees
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$53,406
Earnings (5yr)
$56,835
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (5yr)
$76,336
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Professional Degrees
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (5yr)
$83,060
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$179,778
Earnings (5yr)
$183,730
Lifetime Value Added
+$838k
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
ProfCIP: 5120
Median Debt
$71,000
Earnings (5yr)
$139,235
Lifetime Value Added
+$518k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
ProfCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$72,370
Earnings (5yr)
$174,248
Lifetime Value Added
+$770k
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.