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University of Memphis
Memphis, TN 13,645 Undergrads 54.5% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$25,164
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,253
After Aid
Median Earnings
$48,458
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$13,253
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$48,458
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate54.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients47.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time82.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS67.9%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
93.4%
SAT Avg
1,051
SAT Reading
25th: 465-75th: 615
SAT Math
25th: 440-75th: 590
ACT Composite
25th: 17-75th: 24
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
+$425k
+$28k
-$60k
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$377k
-$19k
-$107k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$334k
-$62k
-$150k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$13k/yr
Never
-225%
Full Cost$25k/yr
Never
-166%
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 Return-193%
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-98%
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
$23,325
Earnings (5yr)
$65,542
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$33,817
Lifetime Value Added
-$223k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$22,375
Earnings (5yr)
$50,833
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
BachCIP: 1405
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (2yr)
$46,087
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$22,247
Earnings (5yr)
$58,570
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Business/Managerial Economics
BachCIP: 5206
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,066
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (5yr)
$74,721
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$27,750
Earnings (5yr)
$78,233
Lifetime Value Added
+$133k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$41,952
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$94,793
Lifetime Value Added
+$257k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$79,929
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$25,941
Earnings (5yr)
$49,589
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$25,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$293k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$84,827
Lifetime Value Added
+$182k
Engineering Technology, General
BachCIP: 1500
Median Debt
$24,875
Earnings (5yr)
$78,885
Lifetime Value Added
+$138k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (5yr)
$41,064
Lifetime Value Added
-$161k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$23,550
Earnings (5yr)
$63,377
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$28,750
Earnings (5yr)
$41,028
Lifetime Value Added
-$162k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,728
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$24,900
Earnings (5yr)
$50,267
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$22,625
Earnings (5yr)
$46,475
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$26,541
Earnings (5yr)
$44,977
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$57,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,019
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$29,025
Earnings (5yr)
$47,098
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
$21,279
Earnings (5yr)
$45,728
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$27,608
Earnings (5yr)
$72,291
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$21,125
Earnings (5yr)
$51,803
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$74,774
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$26,199
Earnings (5yr)
$86,402
Lifetime Value Added
+$194k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$45,387
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$20,545
Earnings (5yr)
$46,852
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$26,699
Earnings (5yr)
$39,587
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$52,699
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$24,875
Earnings (5yr)
$43,526
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$23,963
Earnings (5yr)
$75,543
Lifetime Value Added
+$113k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$31,250
Earnings (5yr)
$45,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$25,665
Earnings (5yr)
$38,489
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$21,852
Earnings (5yr)
$44,607
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$26,750
Earnings (5yr)
$42,469
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$21,623
Earnings (5yr)
$45,592
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$25,025
Earnings (5yr)
$94,598
Lifetime Value Added
+$369k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$29,480
Earnings (5yr)
$111,623
Lifetime Value Added
+$515k
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning
MastCIP: 0403
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,385
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$31,244
Earnings (5yr)
$57,281
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$36,355
Earnings (5yr)
$52,652
Lifetime Value Added
+$611
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
MastCIP: 5131
Median Debt
$30,047
Earnings (2yr)
$53,775
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$63,600
Lifetime Value Added
+$135k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$34,362
Earnings (5yr)
$102,160
Lifetime Value Added
+$434k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$28,579
Earnings (5yr)
$67,415
Lifetime Value Added
+$135k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,208
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Journalism
MastCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,937
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
MastCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$41,964
Earnings (5yr)
$60,703
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$24,597
Earnings (2yr)
$22,771
Lifetime Value Added
-$276k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,574
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$26,062
Earnings (5yr)
$59,405
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$43,576
Earnings (5yr)
$121,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$601k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$48,295
Earnings (5yr)
$59,724
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$39,554
Earnings (5yr)
$54,679
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Graduate Certificates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Gr-CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$40,485
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Doctoral Degrees
Curriculum and Instruction
DocCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$66,821
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
Psychology, General
DocCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$49,840
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Professional Degrees
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$92,250
Earnings (5yr)
$83,228
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
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.