College ROI

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University of Massachusetts-Lowell

Lowell, MA 11,434 Undergrads 66.3% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$30,786
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$17,163
After Aid
Median Earnings
$81,163
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$17,163
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$81,163
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Warning: This school's reported earnings inflated significantly (+25%) when the Dept of Education excluded non-graduates from the dataset. Take caution when comparing.
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$64,874
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate66.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age22.9
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients29.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time82.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS80.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
83.0%
SAT Avg
1,285
SAT Reading
25th: 59062075th: 680
SAT Math
25th: 59063575th: 690
ACT Composite
25th: 252975th: 32

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
+$699k
+$232k
+$215k
Median Cost$17k/yr
+$637k
+$171k
+$153k
Full Cost$31k/yr
+$588k
+$121k
+$104k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
28
∞
Median Cost$17k/yr
33
248%
Full Cost$31k/yr
38
94%
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 Return272%

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 Return24%
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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$85,543
Natl Median: $50,984
Lifetime Value Added
+$431k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,556
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$9,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,742
Natl Median: $57,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,116
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,019
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $29,202
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$91,498
Natl Median: $58,325
Lifetime Value Added
+$489k

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,927
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,792
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$16,496
Earnings (4yr)
$75,423
Natl Median: $56,799
Lifetime Value Added
+$253k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,773
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$22,750
Earnings (4yr)
$76,149
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
Median Debt
$24,776
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$75,859
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
Median Debt
$26,825
Earnings (4yr)
$94,972
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$258k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$26,737
Earnings (4yr)
$74,568
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$103k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$83,233
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$169k
Median Debt
$26,393
Earnings (4yr)
$86,040
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$190k
Median Debt
$26,277
Earnings (4yr)
$97,547
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$278k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$111,612
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$385k
Median Debt
$21,502
Earnings (4yr)
$66,258
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$76,822
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
Median Debt
$25,413
Earnings (4yr)
$101,054
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$305k
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,599
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,039
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Median Debt
$25,974
Earnings (4yr)
$52,637
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$22,564
Earnings (4yr)
$55,973
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Median Debt
$21,990
Earnings (4yr)
$89,715
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
Median Debt
$22,625
Earnings (4yr)
$51,492
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$23,735
Earnings (4yr)
$72,826
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$120,219
Natl Median: $82,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$450k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$94,841
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$257k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,384
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Median Debt
$26,125
Earnings (4yr)
$59,783
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Nutrition Sciences
BachCIP: 3019
Median Debt
$27,307
Earnings (4yr)
$69,604
Natl Median: $60,053
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,114
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,629
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$21,677
Earnings (4yr)
$91,438
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$231k
Median Debt
$18,173
Earnings (4yr)
$63,584
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$100,428
Natl Median: $92,919
Lifetime Value Added
+$300k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$57,489
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$24,982
Earnings (4yr)
$65,429
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$93,650
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$248k
Median Debt
$26,147
Earnings (4yr)
$72,958
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
+$90k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,361
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,783
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $146,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
PB-CertCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,198
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
PB-CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,697
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$23,375
Earnings (4yr)
$111,662
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$311k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$109,024
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
+$269k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$107,285
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
+$272k
Median Debt
$21,720
Earnings (4yr)
$119,730
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$381k
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)
$94,416
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$132,707
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$493k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$130,170
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
+$471k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$151,603
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$656k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$109,714
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
+$294k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$66,277
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$82,921
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$137,144
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$531k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, Other
MastCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $129,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,366
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,955
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$119,763
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$381k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,662
Earnings (4yr)
$103,784
Natl Median: $95,627
Lifetime Value Added
+$242k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$117,288
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$360k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,267
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $129,214
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$95,208
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
+$167k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$107,285
Natl Median: $114,668
Lifetime Value Added
+$272k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$54,713
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$38,228
Earnings (4yr)
$73,712
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Median Debt
$34,093
Earnings (4yr)
$125,044
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$427k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,216
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,694
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$128,785
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
+$578k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,413
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,517
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$97,509
Natl Median: $74,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$282k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $129,570
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, Other
Gr-CertCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,828
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$78,018
Natl Median: $99,117
Lifetime Value Added
+$97k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$43,426
Natl Median: $70,055
Lifetime Value Added
-$230k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $122,843
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,095
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
Gr-CertCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$65,990
Natl Median: $62,083
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Public Health
Gr-CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,684
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,848
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $167,302
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
Median Debt
$19,765
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,070
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: $130,514
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
DocCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,962
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (4yr)
$85,128
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,168
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.