Back to Colleges
University of Maryland-College Park
College Park, MD 30,246 Undergrads 84.2% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$28,073
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$15,590
After Aid
Median Earnings
$82,860
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$15,590
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$82,860
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate84.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients18.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time93.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS85.5%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
44.8%
SAT Avg
1,463
SAT Reading
25th: 67069075th: 740
SAT Math
25th: 70073075th: 780
ACT Composite
25th: 323275th: 35
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
+$688k
+$291k
+$203k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$631k
+$235k
+$147k
Full Cost$28k/yr
+$587k
+$190k
+$102k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
28
∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
33
262%
Full Cost$28k/yr
38
101%
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 Return286%
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 Return30%
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
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$99,454
Lifetime Value Added
+$283k
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
BachCIP: 1402
Median Debt
$21,083
Earnings (5yr)
$106,431
Lifetime Value Added
+$336k
Agricultural Business and Management
BachCIP: 0101
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$82,616
Lifetime Value Added
+$157k
Agricultural Engineering
BachCIP: 1403
Median Debt
$22,437
Earnings (5yr)
$106,061
Lifetime Value Added
+$333k
Agriculture, General
BachCIP: 0100
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,445
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$56,654
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$20,070
Earnings (5yr)
$62,067
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$20,913
Earnings (5yr)
$66,802
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (5yr)
$64,545
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$54,321
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$72,024
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$102,325
Lifetime Value Added
+$305k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$22,281
Earnings (5yr)
$92,423
Lifetime Value Added
+$231k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$16,738
Earnings (5yr)
$78,447
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$20,499
Earnings (5yr)
$90,438
Lifetime Value Added
+$216k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$17,250
Earnings (5yr)
$75,778
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$68,693
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$144,240
Lifetime Value Added
+$615k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$20,417
Earnings (2yr)
$80,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$178k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$18,031
Earnings (5yr)
$69,545
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$38,656
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,792
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
BachCIP: 2613
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$55,322
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$86,897
Lifetime Value Added
+$189k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$108,058
Lifetime Value Added
+$348k
Engineering, Other
BachCIP: 1499
Median Debt
$18,458
Earnings (5yr)
$92,285
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$58,415
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
$16,250
Earnings (5yr)
$59,904
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$116,598
Lifetime Value Added
+$411k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$19,417
Earnings (5yr)
$56,643
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Food Science and Technology
BachCIP: 0110
Median Debt
$23,015
Earnings (5yr)
$69,427
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$77,031
Lifetime Value Added
+$116k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$73,118
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$21,026
Earnings (5yr)
$55,450
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$18,567
Earnings (5yr)
$56,321
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$113,785
Lifetime Value Added
+$390k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$86,486
Lifetime Value Added
+$186k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$70,492
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,229
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
BachCIP: 5213
Median Debt
$14,943
Earnings (5yr)
$110,163
Lifetime Value Added
+$363k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$91,119
Lifetime Value Added
+$221k
Materials Engineering
BachCIP: 1418
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$66,325
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$101,607
Lifetime Value Added
+$300k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$102,581
Lifetime Value Added
+$307k
Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1611
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,848
Lifetime Value Added
-$186k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$21,614
Earnings (5yr)
$47,666
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$19,607
Earnings (5yr)
$65,351
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$59,449
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Physical Sciences
BachCIP: 4001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$101,240
Lifetime Value Added
+$297k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$18,442
Earnings (5yr)
$79,622
Lifetime Value Added
+$135k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$63,220
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$67,437
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$19,742
Earnings (5yr)
$57,044
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$18,800
Earnings (5yr)
$60,642
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,570
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$18,625
Earnings (5yr)
$61,213
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,438
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
PB-CertCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,723
Lifetime Value Added
+$223k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$37,025
Earnings (5yr)
$95,243
Lifetime Value Added
+$370k
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
MastCIP: 1402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$101,746
Lifetime Value Added
+$479k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$83,880
Lifetime Value Added
+$272k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$58,673
Lifetime Value Added
+$85k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$64,438
Earnings (5yr)
$153,609
Lifetime Value Added
+$867k
Business/Commerce, General
MastCIP: 5201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$94,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$412k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$33,894
Earnings (5yr)
$71,468
Lifetime Value Added
+$165k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$29,286
Earnings (5yr)
$67,719
Lifetime Value Added
+$133k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$82,032
Lifetime Value Added
+$256k
Engineering, General
MastCIP: 1401
Median Debt
$35,500
Earnings (5yr)
$134,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$702k
Information Science/Studies
MastCIP: 1104
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$71,643
Lifetime Value Added
+$205k
Journalism
MastCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,744
Lifetime Value Added
+$116k
Library Science and Administration
MastCIP: 2501
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (5yr)
$68,659
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
MastCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$34,451
Earnings (5yr)
$102,991
Lifetime Value Added
+$436k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$33,000
Earnings (5yr)
$40,871
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Natural Resources Management and Policy
MastCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$88,244
Lifetime Value Added
+$310k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$41,326
Earnings (5yr)
$93,644
Lifetime Value Added
+$356k
Public Policy Analysis
MastCIP: 4405
Median Debt
$30,821
Earnings (5yr)
$102,679
Lifetime Value Added
+$434k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
MastCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,927
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,894
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
Urban Studies/Affairs
MastCIP: 4512
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$55,512
Lifetime Value Added
+$54k
Doctoral Degrees
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$73,949
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$130,079
Lifetime Value Added
+$458k
Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,059
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$120,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$388k
Political Science and Government
DocCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$63,005
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
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.