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University of Massachusetts-Boston
Boston, MA 11,512 Undergrads 61.6% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$36,898
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$22,548
After Aid
Median Earnings
$73,632
5yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$22,548
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$73,632Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$70,597Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate61.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age23.6
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients47.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time85.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS78.7%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
83.8%
SAT Avg
1,194
SAT Reading
25th: 54058575th: 650
SAT Math
25th: 53058575th: 640
ACT Composite
25th: 222775th: 29
ROI Sensitivity AnalysisAssuming 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
+$635k
+$165k
+$148k
Median Cost$23k/yr
+$554k
+$83k
+$67k
Full Cost$37k/yr
+$502k
+$32k
+$15k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
30
∞
Median Cost$23k/yr
41
83%
Full Cost$37k/yr
56
12%
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 Return113%
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-27%
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 →
Bachelor's Degrees
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$21,875
Earnings (4yr)
$43,053
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,128
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
-$161k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$22,448
Earnings (4yr)
$85,296
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$167k
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 2699
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,681
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$65,815
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$72,746
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$71k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$318k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$22,448
Earnings (4yr)
$60,411
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Community Organization and Advocacy
BachCIP: 4402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,440
Natl Median: $51,936
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$23,264
Earnings (4yr)
$83,405
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$153k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$21,970
Earnings (4yr)
$62,222
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (4yr)
$70,552
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
Median Debt
$23,525
Earnings (4yr)
$100,902
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$286k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$24,276
Earnings (4yr)
$53,347
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$53,509
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$25,178
Earnings (4yr)
$49,722
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,992
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,079
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$28,322
Earnings (2yr)
$41,193
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$61,382
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$23,111
Earnings (4yr)
$54,868
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$24,075
Earnings (4yr)
$63,131
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$52,200
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$95,648
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$246k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (5yr)
$61,547
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Social Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$51,034
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$22,818
Earnings (4yr)
$58,394
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$64,665
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Median Debt
$21,589
Earnings (4yr)
$56,460
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$98,398
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$186k
Archeology
MastCIP: 4503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,995
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,936
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$31,896
Earnings (4yr)
$112,398
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$308k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning
MastCIP: 0403
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,665
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,853
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Dispute Resolution
MastCIP: 3028
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,725
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,348
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Educational/Instructional Media Design
MastCIP: 1305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$108,956
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
+$278k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,893
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Finance and Financial Management Services
MastCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Gerontology
MastCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,482
Natl Median: $67,618
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,407
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$227k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$67,132
Natl Median: $58,093
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
MastCIP: 5213
Median Debt
$35,157
Earnings (4yr)
$112,856
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$312k
Marine Sciences
MastCIP: 3032
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,840
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$68,868
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
MastCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$81,029
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Policy Analysis
MastCIP: 4405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$38,292
Earnings (4yr)
$126,694
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$432k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$31,149
Earnings (4yr)
$70,150
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$63,123
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Median Debt
$20,769
Earnings (4yr)
$76,298
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Graduate Certificates
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
Gr-CertCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,984
Natl Median: $69,995
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
Educational Administration and Supervision
Gr-CertCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$111,425
Natl Median: $88,001
Lifetime Value Added
+$390k
Educational/Instructional Media Design
Gr-CertCIP: 1305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,166
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
Gr-CertCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Natl Median: $112,003
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$125,050
Natl Median: $125,050
Lifetime Value Added
+$516k
Special Education and Teaching
Gr-CertCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$59,425
Natl Median: $69,147
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Doctoral Degrees
Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
DocCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$98,666
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Computer Science
DocCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $178,476
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
DocCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $87,373
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Gerontology
DocCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
DocCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $87,076
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
DocCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,962
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Policy Analysis
DocCIP: 4405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $119,220
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$115,339
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$162k
Research and Experimental Psychology
DocCIP: 4227
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,410
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
DocCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,618
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.