College ROI

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University of Maryland-Baltimore County

Baltimore, MD 10,701 Undergrads 70.3% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$28,576
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,467
After Aid
Median Earnings
$74,396
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$16,467
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$74,396
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$69,960
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate70.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age22.3
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients30.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time87.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
72.4%
SAT Avg
1,323
SAT Reading
25th: 63065575th: 700
SAT Math
25th: 61066075th: 720
ACT Composite
25th: 252875th: 31

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
+$647k
+$181k
+$163k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$588k
+$121k
+$104k
Full Cost$29k/yr
+$545k
+$78k
+$60k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
29
∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
36
175%
Full Cost$29k/yr
43
59%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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 Return206%

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 Return6%
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

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$77,731
Natl Median: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
+$341k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,615
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,625
Earnings (5yr)
$101,507
Natl Median: $58,325
Lifetime Value Added
+$567k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,242
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,699
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$21,879
Earnings (5yr)
$50,038
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$75,493
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$69,724
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,713
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$91,547
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$235k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,477
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$60,957
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$267
Median Debt
$19,744
Earnings (4yr)
$113,299
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$400k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$105,706
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$343k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$74,808
Natl Median: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (4yr)
$53,363
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$34,778
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$220k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$79,729
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$145k
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (4yr)
$57,547
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$35,125
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$217k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,724
Earnings (4yr)
$68,823
Natl Median: $68,245
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$19,579
Earnings (4yr)
$56,394
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$95,435
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$264k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$20,379
Earnings (4yr)
$50,400
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (5yr)
$49,113
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$88,967
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$215k
Median Debt
$19,563
Earnings (4yr)
$95,078
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$262k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$26,250
Earnings (4yr)
$42,289
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,336
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
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
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$64,756
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$54,039
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$19,223
Earnings (4yr)
$58,412
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$51,421
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,060
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 (5yr)
$120,047
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$364k
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 (5yr)
$71,919
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$111,426
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
+$291k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,674
Natl Median: $70,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$353k
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$69,822
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Gerontology
MastCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$129,398
Natl Median: $112,705
Lifetime Value Added
+$466k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,289
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$28,537
Earnings (4yr)
$113,688
Natl Median: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
+$330k
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Systems Engineering
MastCIP: 1427
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $144,565
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,659
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k

Graduate Certificates

Biotechnology
Gr-CertCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,951
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,301
Natl Median: $69,033
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,166
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $121,041
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,168
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,117
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$135,262
Natl Median: $72,899
Lifetime Value Added
+$639k
Social Sciences, Other
Gr-CertCIP: 4599
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,694
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Systems Engineering
Gr-CertCIP: 1427
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $148,730
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,729
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: $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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$121,493
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
+$194k
Computer Science
DocCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $178,476
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $157,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,469
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Gerontology
DocCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $126,925
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,070
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,341
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: $119,220
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,410
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
DocCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $156,733
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,308
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,684
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.