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University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Baltimore, MD 10,434 Undergrads 69.4% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$27,935
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$18,328
After Aid
Median Earnings
$69,960
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$18,328
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$69,960
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate69.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients29.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time87.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.5%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
74.2%
SAT Avg
1,299
SAT Reading
25th: 61065575th: 700
SAT Math
25th: 61066075th: 710
ACT Composite
25th: 232875th: 30
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
+$593k
+$196k
+$108k
Median Cost$18k/yr
+$527k
+$130k
+$42k
Full Cost$28k/yr
+$492k
+$96k
+$8k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
32
∞
Median Cost$18k/yr
44
64%
Full Cost$28k/yr
59
8%
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 Return111%
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-22%
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
Certificates
Accounting and Related Services
CertCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$77,731
Lifetime Value Added
+$339k
Information Science/Studies
CertCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$20,625
Earnings (5yr)
$101,507
Lifetime Value Added
+$566k
Bachelor's Degrees
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$21,879
Earnings (5yr)
$50,038
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$77,423
Lifetime Value Added
+$109k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (5yr)
$65,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$98,642
Lifetime Value Added
+$267k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$58,322
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$19,744
Earnings (5yr)
$111,632
Lifetime Value Added
+$364k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$109,160
Lifetime Value Added
+$346k
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
BachCIP: 1110
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$74,894
Lifetime Value Added
+$90k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (5yr)
$38,986
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (2yr)
$21,508
Lifetime Value Added
-$336k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$77,388
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (5yr)
$55,284
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$46,105
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 5199
Median Debt
$18,724
Earnings (5yr)
$60,985
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$19,579
Earnings (5yr)
$54,324
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$99,498
Lifetime Value Added
+$274k
International/Global Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$20,379
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (5yr)
$49,113
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (5yr)
$86,534
Lifetime Value Added
+$177k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$19,563
Earnings (5yr)
$93,344
Lifetime Value Added
+$228k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$26,250
Earnings (5yr)
$35,622
Lifetime Value Added
-$226k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$53,247
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$70,455
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (5yr)
$56,470
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$19,223
Earnings (5yr)
$59,755
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$62,279
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Master's Degrees
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$120,047
Lifetime Value Added
+$577k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$71,919
Lifetime Value Added
+$164k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$111,426
Lifetime Value Added
+$504k
Design and Applied Arts
MastCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,674
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$67,339
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
Information Science/Studies
MastCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$131,013
Lifetime Value Added
+$670k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
MastCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$28,537
Earnings (5yr)
$121,540
Lifetime Value Added
+$590k
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language
MastCIP: 1314
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,659
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k
Graduate Certificates
Curriculum and Instruction
Gr-CertCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$85,348
Lifetime Value Added
+$366k
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.