College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of Louisville

Louisville, KY 14,727 Undergrads 58.4% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$30,975
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$14,960
After Aid
Median Earnings
$64,012
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$14,960
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$64,012
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$60,032
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate58.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)21.9
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients37.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time83.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS76.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
79.4%
SAT Avg
1,150
SAT Reading
25th: 53058075th: 640
SAT Math
25th: 51057075th: 630
ACT Composite
25th: 192375th: 27

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)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$561k
+$91k
+$74k
Median Cost$15k/yr
+$507k
+$37k
+$21k
Full Cost$31k/yr
+$449k
-$21k
-$37k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
35
∞
Median Cost$15k/yr
50
38%
Full Cost$31k/yr
Never
-33%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
  • 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 Return33%

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%

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 →

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,702
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (4yr)
$74,924
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $45,044
Lifetime Value Added
-$291k
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Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,564
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
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Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,997
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$17,026
Earnings (4yr)
$56,142
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$84,311
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$187k
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Median Debt
$10,000
Earnings (2yr)
$35,274
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$199k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,845
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
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Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$101,068
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$315k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,617
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
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Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$18,945
Earnings (4yr)
$80,681
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$159k
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Median Debt
$19,416
Earnings (4yr)
$55,636
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
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Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$97,216
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$286k
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Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,399
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
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Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$62,595
Natl Median: $68,061
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (4yr)
$93,968
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$261k
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Median Debt
$15,949
Earnings (4yr)
$45,572
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,715
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
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Median Debt
$14,512
Earnings (4yr)
$75,089
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k
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Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,429
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,775
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$15,625
Earnings (4yr)
$45,825
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$104,538
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$341k
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Median Debt
$16,001
Earnings (4yr)
$44,829
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
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Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$68,074
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$77,756
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
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Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$89,056
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$223k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$18,250
Earnings (4yr)
$39,168
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$177k
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Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,329
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
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Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,856
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,625
Earnings (4yr)
$51,387
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
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Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$16,635
Earnings (4yr)
$56,057
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
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Median Debt
$20,494
Earnings (4yr)
$78,902
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,369
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
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Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,437
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,397
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$19,389
Earnings (4yr)
$53,496
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
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Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,887
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,405
Earnings (4yr)
$47,190
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
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Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (4yr)
$74,873
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
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Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$132,191
Natl Median: $99,783
Lifetime Value Added
+$613k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,623
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,439
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$86,205
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
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Median Debt
$132,682
Earnings (5yr)
$303,194
Natl Median: $235,700
Lifetime Value Added
+$1861k
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Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,271
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$85,209
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
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Median Debt
$35,500
Earnings (4yr)
$110,622
Natl Median: $125,988
Lifetime Value Added
+$306k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,837
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$104,744
Natl Median: $115,468
Lifetime Value Added
+$255k
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Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$75,893
Natl Median: $79,665
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
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Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$81,217
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,747
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$269k
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Median Debt
$61,194
Earnings (4yr)
$59,742
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$101,295
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
+$225k
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Median Debt
$43,276
Earnings (4yr)
$107,484
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
+$279k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,600
Earnings (4yr)
$86,009
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$100,750
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$220k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$119,245
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
+$382k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,208
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$347k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$69,757
Natl Median: $119,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$105,037
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$258k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,750
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,519
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$319k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$66,931
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
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Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$34,722
Earnings (4yr)
$78,535
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
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Median Debt
$50,561
Earnings (4yr)
$85,670
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,216
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
-$336k
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Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$47,656
Earnings (4yr)
$59,074
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
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Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$33,064
Earnings (4yr)
$60,000
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$37,393
Earnings (4yr)
$60,645
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
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Median Debt
$42,255
Earnings (4yr)
$54,613
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k
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Median Debt
$24,602
Earnings (4yr)
$57,344
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
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Median Debt
$30,846
Earnings (4yr)
$66,931
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
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Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,729
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,683
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
-$263k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,578
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $141,187
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,343
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,427
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,031
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$103,501
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $157,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,534
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,435
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,341
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,943
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,153
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,640
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,410
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,692
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
DocCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
DocCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,794
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,485
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Dentistry
ProfCIP: 5104
Median Debt
$351,798
Earnings (4yr)
$172,704
Natl Median: $170,812
Lifetime Value Added
+$575k
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Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$84,706
Earnings (4yr)
$80,728
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
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Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$232,693
Earnings (4yr)
$106,490
Natl Median: $112,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
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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.