College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of Maine at Farmington

Farmington, ME 1,131 Undergrads 58.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$24,103
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$14,873
After Aid
Median Earnings
$44,433
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$14,873
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$44,433
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate58.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients43.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time88.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS52.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
97.6%
SAT Avg
1,040
SAT Reading
25th: 510-75th: 615
SAT Math
25th: 405-75th: 595
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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
+$392k
-$5k
-$93k
Median Cost$15k/yr
+$338k
-$58k
-$146k
Full Cost$24k/yr
+$305k
-$91k
-$179k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$15k/yr
Never
-273%
Full Cost$24k/yr
Never
-207%
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 Return-261%

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-112%
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

Business/Managerial Economics
BachCIP: 5206
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (2yr)
$30,771
Lifetime Value Added
-$239k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$27,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$269k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$28,960
Lifetime Value Added
-$255k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$23,125
Earnings (5yr)
$43,138
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
BachCIP: 5123
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$39,979
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$20,687
Lifetime Value Added
-$331k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$45,235
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$25,844
Earnings (5yr)
$42,890
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k

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.