College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

University of Memphis

Memphis, TN 12,701 Undergrads 52.6% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$25,805
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,192
After Aid
Median Earnings
$57,040
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$12,192
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$57,040
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$52,227
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate52.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)22.8
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients53.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time82.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS66.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
72.0%
SAT Avg
1,088
SAT Reading
25th: 48053075th: 600
SAT Math
25th: 43550575th: 580
ACT Composite
25th: 182175th: 24

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
+$505k
+$35k
+$19k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$461k
-$9k
-$25k
Full Cost$26k/yr
+$412k
-$58k
-$74k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
47
∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
Never
-58%
Full Cost$26k/yr
Never
-80%
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 Return-46%

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-64%

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

Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$71,038
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
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Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$18,250
Earnings (4yr)
$46,560
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
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Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$18,350
Earnings (4yr)
$53,784
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
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Median Debt
$22,625
Earnings (4yr)
$88,279
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$227k
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Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (4yr)
$65,045
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,162
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$46,490
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
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Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$79,598
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$161k
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Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$42,605
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$89,702
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$238k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$18,250
Earnings (4yr)
$90,207
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$242k
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Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$53,399
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,250
Earnings (4yr)
$38,440
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
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Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$89,515
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$237k
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Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
BachCIP: 1500
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (4yr)
$79,914
Natl Median: $80,526
Lifetime Value Added
+$163k
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Median Debt
$24,249
Earnings (4yr)
$41,383
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,461
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,232
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
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Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (4yr)
$65,132
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k
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Median Debt
$23,574
Earnings (4yr)
$48,064
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
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Median Debt
$24,723
Earnings (5yr)
$50,377
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$47,449
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
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Median Debt
$20,842
Earnings (4yr)
$52,627
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,729
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$21,798
Earnings (4yr)
$49,445
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
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Median Debt
$25,634
Earnings (4yr)
$48,798
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
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Median Debt
$17,583
Earnings (4yr)
$39,001
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
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Median Debt
$22,875
Earnings (4yr)
$73,323
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$113k
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Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$67,468
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$65,079
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k
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Median Debt
$23,315
Earnings (4yr)
$89,516
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$237k
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Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$49,707
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$13,531
Earnings (4yr)
$45,321
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
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Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$291k
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Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (4yr)
$50,070
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (4yr)
$45,700
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
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Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,237
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
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Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$75,444
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
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Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$20,505
Earnings (4yr)
$46,494
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$43,595
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
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Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,465
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$50,126
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
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Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$44,293
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
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Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,497
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
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Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$24,252
Earnings (4yr)
$95,794
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$182k
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Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$35,527
Earnings (4yr)
$113,843
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$340k
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Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,385
Natl Median: $79,665
Lifetime Value Added
-$299k
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Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$47,224
Earnings (4yr)
$66,928
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$96,546
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$189k
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Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$36,818
Earnings (4yr)
$56,248
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,417
Natl Median: $62,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,521
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
MastCIP: 1500
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $111,169
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$94,722
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$173k
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History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,208
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$342k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$85,818
Natl Median: $97,121
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
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Journalism
MastCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,937
Natl Median: $69,034
Lifetime Value Added
-$293k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,320
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
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Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,099
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Philosophy
MastCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,937
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$293k
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Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$29,000
Earnings (4yr)
$75,873
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
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Median Debt
$45,618
Earnings (4yr)
$115,610
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$355k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$32,318
Earnings (4yr)
$61,683
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
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Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$34,096
Earnings (4yr)
$66,104
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$38,293
Earnings (4yr)
$51,734
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$214k
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Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $117,834
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$40,485
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
-$259k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,509
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$37,216
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,138
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,517
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$44,799
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,077
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,833
Natl Median: $75,166
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,168
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,959
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
Gr-CertCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,918
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,226
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,763
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,495
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $122,843
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Museology/Museum Studies
Gr-CertCIP: 3014
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,250
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
Gr-CertCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,504
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,003
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
Gr-CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,684
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,852
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,147
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,774
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,178
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,848
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $113,566
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)
$110,977
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
+$132k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,931
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,343
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
DocCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $178,476
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$97,572
Natl Median: $83,031
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,173
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$85,070
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,831
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,039
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
DocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,550
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
DocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,592
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
DocCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,449
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$90,383
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Public Health
DocCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,962
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,794
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$94,721
Earnings (4yr)
$81,169
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
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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.