College ROI

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University of Louisville

Louisville, KY 14,727 Undergrads 58.2% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$32,941
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$17,988
After Aid
Median Earnings
$67,853
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$17,988
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$67,853
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Warning: This school's reported earnings inflated significantly (+26%) when the Dept of Education excluded non-graduates from the dataset. Take caution when comparing.
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$53,899
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate58.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age21.9
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients34.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time83.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS76.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
79.4%
SAT Avg
1,150
SAT Reading
25th: 53058075th: 640
SAT Math
25th: 51058075th: 630
ACT Composite
25th: 192475th: 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)
⚠️ 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
+$597k
+$131k
+$113k
Median Cost$18k/yr
+$533k
+$66k
+$48k
Full Cost$33k/yr
+$479k
+$12k
-$6k

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
31
∞
Median Cost$18k/yr
43
75%
Full Cost$33k/yr
Never
-5%
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 Return86%

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-31%
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.

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

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,636
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$18,644
Earnings (4yr)
$74,924
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$38,473
Natl Median: $45,044
Lifetime Value Added
-$200k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$19,860
Earnings (4yr)
$43,564
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
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
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,142
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$84,311
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$174k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,274
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$209k
Median Debt
$16,169
Earnings (4yr)
$75,845
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$109k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$101,068
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$302k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$21,679
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$80,681
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
Median Debt
$20,735
Earnings (4yr)
$55,636
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Median Debt
$21,306
Earnings (4yr)
$97,216
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$273k
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$57,399
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$62,595
Natl Median: $68,061
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
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
$13,123
Earnings (4yr)
$93,968
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$248k
Median Debt
$19,628
Earnings (4yr)
$45,572
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
Median Debt
$27,750
Earnings (4yr)
$50,715
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Median Debt
$20,884
Earnings (4yr)
$75,089
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
Median Debt
$24,768
Earnings (4yr)
$45,429
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,775
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$21,490
Earnings (4yr)
$45,825
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$104,538
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$328k
Median Debt
$24,594
Earnings (4yr)
$44,829
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$90,799
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$224k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$68,074
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$77,756
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$89,056
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$210k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$13,747
Earnings (4yr)
$39,168
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,329
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,121
Earnings (4yr)
$55,856
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,008
Earnings (4yr)
$51,387
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$18,336
Earnings (4yr)
$56,057
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Median Debt
$19,704
Earnings (4yr)
$78,902
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$133k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,400
Earnings (4yr)
$42,369
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,437
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$20,800
Earnings (4yr)
$50,397
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$20,311
Earnings (4yr)
$53,496
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,887
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,450
Earnings (4yr)
$47,190
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$74,873
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,165
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $128,842
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$132,191
Natl Median: $99,783
Lifetime Value Added
+$609k
History
PB-CertCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,139
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
+$86k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$222,062
Natl Median: $235,700
Lifetime Value Added
+$1220k
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
+$78k
Median Debt
$33,183
Earnings (4yr)
$110,622
Natl Median: $125,988
Lifetime Value Added
+$300k
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
+$249k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$72,404
Natl Median: $79,665
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$81,217
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
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
-$273k
Median Debt
$55,121
Earnings (4yr)
$59,742
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$101,295
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
+$219k
Median Debt
$30,500
Earnings (4yr)
$107,484
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
+$273k
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
$26,724
Earnings (4yr)
$86,009
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$85k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$100,750
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$214k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$119,245
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
+$375k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$37,312
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$372k
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 (5yr)
$106,836
Natl Median: $119,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$249k
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
+$251k
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
-$323k
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
$35,561
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)
$61,153
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$37,565
Earnings (4yr)
$78,535
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Median Debt
$55,060
Earnings (4yr)
$85,670
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
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
-$339k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$35,024
Earnings (4yr)
$59,074
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$34,475
Earnings (4yr)
$60,000
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$39,650
Earnings (4yr)
$60,645
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,613
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$196k
Median Debt
$20,243
Earnings (4yr)
$57,344
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Median Debt
$22,841
Earnings (4yr)
$66,931
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k

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
-$273k
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
$31,184
Earnings (4yr)
$103,501
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $157,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,718
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
-
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
$305,953
Earnings (4yr)
$172,704
Natl Median: $170,812
Lifetime Value Added
+$565k
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$96,424
Earnings (4yr)
$80,728
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$199,999
Earnings (4yr)
$106,490
Natl Median: $112,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k

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.