College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of Maine

Orono, ME 8,496 Undergrads 56.0% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$29,162
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$17,224
After Aid
Median Earnings
$65,268
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$17,224
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$65,268
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$59,140
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate56.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)20.2
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients28.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time87.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
96.6%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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
+$571k
+$101k
+$84k
Median Cost$17k/yr
+$509k
+$39k
+$22k
Full Cost$29k/yr
+$466k
-$4k
-$21k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
34
∞
Median Cost$17k/yr
50
36%
Full Cost$29k/yr
Never
-20%
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 Return58%

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-39%

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: $54,445
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,095
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$65,906
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,588
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,825
Natl Median: $49,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
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Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$45,119
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,494
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (5yr)
$70,883
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
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Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,185
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
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Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$80,059
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,245
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$66,867
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
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Median Debt
$22,509
Earnings (4yr)
$94,964
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$260k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$24,537
Earnings (4yr)
$78,989
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$138k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,990
Natl Median: $50,523
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,306
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,584
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$104,785
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$335k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$99,413
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$294k
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Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
BachCIP: 1510
Median Debt
$21,233
Earnings (4yr)
$89,454
Natl Median: $93,843
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$14,875
Earnings (4yr)
$65,097
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
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Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$100,593
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$303k
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Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
$23,432
Earnings (4yr)
$90,940
Natl Median: $84,599
Lifetime Value Added
+$229k
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Engineering Physics
BachCIP: 1412
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,154
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,842
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,875
Earnings (4yr)
$50,825
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,435
Earnings (4yr)
$75,004
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k
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Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$44,876
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
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Forestry
BachCIP: 0305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,124
Natl Median: $58,784
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$20,379
Earnings (4yr)
$53,204
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
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Median Debt
$19,777
Earnings (4yr)
$44,893
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,555
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
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Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,717
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
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Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$45,094
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
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Marine Sciences
BachCIP: 3032
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$46,292
Natl Median: $52,667
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
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Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$23,242
Earnings (4yr)
$67,863
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$91,879
Natl Median: $82,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$237k
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Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$85,064
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$185k
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Median Debt
$26,449
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,582
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,245
Earnings (4yr)
$52,523
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (4yr)
$58,303
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$48,242
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
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Median Debt
$25,064
Earnings (4yr)
$47,421
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
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Median Debt
$24,781
Earnings (4yr)
$77,494
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$127k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$51,470
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,217
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
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Median Debt
$23,011
Earnings (4yr)
$45,122
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
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Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,169
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
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Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,502
Natl Median: $45,338
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
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Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$36,078
Natl Median: $44,055
Lifetime Value Added
-$212k
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Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,056
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,516
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,231
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

Animal Sciences
MastCIP: 0109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,394
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$106,958
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$270k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,468
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$36,682
Earnings (4yr)
$64,710
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,937
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$302k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering Physics
MastCIP: 1412
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $114,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,858
Natl Median: $88,332
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
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Forestry
MastCIP: 0305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,524
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
MastCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$82,741
Natl Median: $86,219
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
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Marine Sciences
MastCIP: 3032
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,840
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
MastCIP: 0111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,814
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$49,416
Earnings (4yr)
$64,301
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,165
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
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Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,104
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$230k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,524
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$216k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,299
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,772
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Anthropology
DocCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,473
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 (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,848
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
Civil Engineering
DocCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
DocCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $87,373
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
DocCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,718
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Forestry
DocCIP: 0305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,046
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,039
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: $87,076
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,153
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, Other
DocCIP: 4299
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,857
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,306
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

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.