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University of Massachusetts-Boston
Boston, MA 11,848 Undergrads 57.0% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$29,698
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$18,282
After Aid
Median Earnings
$65,865
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$18,282
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$65,865
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate57.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients43.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time84.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS75.0%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
83.0%
SAT Avg
1,188
SAT Reading
25th: 54058575th: 650
SAT Math
25th: 54058575th: 640
ACT Composite
25th: 242775th: 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
+$562k
+$166k
+$78k
Median Cost$18k/yr
+$496k
+$100k
+$12k
Full Cost$30k/yr
+$455k
+$59k
-$29k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
34
∞
Median Cost$18k/yr
55
18%
Full Cost$30k/yr
Never
-27%
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 Return46%
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-41%
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
Criminal Justice and Corrections
CertCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,157
Lifetime Value Added
+$248k
Economics
CertCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,453
Lifetime Value Added
+$182k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
CertCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,502
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
Psychology, General
CertCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,052
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
Sociology
CertCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,500
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k
Bachelor's Degrees
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$22,750
Earnings (5yr)
$57,722
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,729
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$23,125
Earnings (5yr)
$69,587
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,127
Earnings (5yr)
$67,991
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$21,062
Earnings (5yr)
$71,306
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,005
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$24,258
Earnings (5yr)
$56,110
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$21,585
Earnings (5yr)
$85,753
Lifetime Value Added
+$171k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$24,271
Earnings (5yr)
$59,781
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$75,739
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$24,212
Earnings (5yr)
$48,236
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$47,839
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$37,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$214k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$22,993
Earnings (5yr)
$69,810
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$23,801
Earnings (5yr)
$55,180
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,500
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$20,412
Earnings (5yr)
$51,477
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$61,619
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$55,661
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$24,100
Earnings (5yr)
$94,210
Lifetime Value Added
+$234k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,153
Lifetime Value Added
-$175k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$26,072
Earnings (5yr)
$53,689
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (5yr)
$55,944
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$24,990
Earnings (5yr)
$46,240
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$95,017
Lifetime Value Added
+$363k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$110,986
Lifetime Value Added
+$500k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$72,089
Lifetime Value Added
+$166k
Educational/Instructional Media Design
MastCIP: 1305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$94,967
Lifetime Value Added
+$363k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,186
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Gerontology
MastCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$75,845
Lifetime Value Added
+$198k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Human Services, General
MastCIP: 4400
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$58,221
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
MastCIP: 1601
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$68,403
Lifetime Value Added
+$134k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$43,469
Earnings (5yr)
$62,900
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$85,920
Lifetime Value Added
+$285k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$35,661
Earnings (5yr)
$124,750
Lifetime Value Added
+$617k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,260
Lifetime Value Added
+$133k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$39,825
Earnings (5yr)
$65,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$69,295
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k
Graduate Certificates
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
Gr-CertCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,721
Lifetime Value Added
+$220k
Educational Administration and Supervision
Gr-CertCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$106,540
Lifetime Value Added
+$564k
Political Science and Government
Gr-CertCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Gr-CertCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$131,027
Lifetime Value Added
+$790k
Special Education and Teaching
Gr-CertCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$72,494
Lifetime Value Added
+$246k
Doctoral Degrees
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
DocCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$90,913
Lifetime Value Added
+$164k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$115,339
Lifetime Value Added
+$393k
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.