College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of Memphis

Memphis, TN 12,701 Undergrads 53.2% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$25,169
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,397
After Aid
Median Earnings
$57,507
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$12,397
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$57,507
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$48,458
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate53.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age22.8
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients48.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time82.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS67.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
72.0%
SAT Avg
1,088
SAT Reading
25th: 480-75th: 600
SAT Math
25th: 435-75th: 580
ACT Composite
25th: 18-75th: 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
+$516k
+$49k
+$31k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$471k
+$4k
-$13k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$425k
-$42k
-$59k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
42
∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
Never
-30%
Full Cost$25k/yr
Never
-66%
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 Return-20%

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-55%
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

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$23,325
Earnings (4yr)
$71,038
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$46,560
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$22,375
Earnings (4yr)
$53,784
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (4yr)
$88,279
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$224k
Median Debt
$22,247
Earnings (4yr)
$65,045
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,162
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (4yr)
$46,490
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$27,750
Earnings (4yr)
$79,598
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$42,605
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$89,702
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$235k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$90,207
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$239k
Median Debt
$25,941
Earnings (4yr)
$53,399
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$38,440
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
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
+$234k
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
BachCIP: 1500
Median Debt
$24,875
Earnings (4yr)
$79,914
Natl Median: $80,526
Lifetime Value Added
+$161k
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (4yr)
$41,383
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,461
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (4yr)
$51,232
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Median Debt
$23,550
Earnings (4yr)
$65,132
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Median Debt
$28,750
Earnings (4yr)
$48,064
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,728
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$22,625
Earnings (4yr)
$47,449
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Median Debt
$26,541
Earnings (4yr)
$52,627
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$62,729
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,445
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Median Debt
$29,025
Earnings (4yr)
$48,798
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Median Debt
$21,279
Earnings (4yr)
$39,001
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
Median Debt
$27,608
Earnings (4yr)
$73,323
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$21,125
Earnings (4yr)
$67,468
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$65,079
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Median Debt
$26,199
Earnings (4yr)
$89,516
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$234k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,707
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$20,545
Earnings (4yr)
$45,321
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$26,699
Earnings (5yr)
$39,587
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,070
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$24,875
Earnings (4yr)
$45,700
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (4yr)
$58,237
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Median Debt
$23,963
Earnings (4yr)
$75,444
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$31,250
Earnings (4yr)
$46,494
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$25,665
Earnings (4yr)
$43,595
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Median Debt
$21,852
Earnings (4yr)
$47,465
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$24,900
Earnings (4yr)
$50,126
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Median Debt
$26,750
Earnings (4yr)
$44,293
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Median Debt
$21,623
Earnings (4yr)
$50,497
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$25,025
Earnings (4yr)
$95,794
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$181k
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,139
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
$29,480
Earnings (4yr)
$113,843
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$338k
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
-$297k
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
$31,244
Earnings (4yr)
$66,928
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$96,546
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$187k
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
$36,355
Earnings (4yr)
$56,248
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Median Debt
$30,047
Earnings (4yr)
$68,417
Natl Median: $62,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
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
-$32k
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
$34,362
Earnings (4yr)
$94,722
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$171k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,208
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$340k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
MastCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,937
Natl Median: $69,034
Lifetime Value Added
-$292k
Median Debt
$41,964
Earnings (4yr)
$65,320
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
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
$24,597
Earnings (4yr)
$57,099
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$162k
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 (5yr)
$59,574
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$26,062
Earnings (4yr)
$75,873
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
Median Debt
$43,576
Earnings (4yr)
$115,610
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$354k
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
$48,295
Earnings (4yr)
$61,683
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
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
$28,579
Earnings (4yr)
$66,104
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Median Debt
$39,554
Earnings (4yr)
$51,734
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$213k

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
-$258k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,509
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
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
-
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
$33,012
Earnings (4yr)
$64,833
Natl Median: $75,166
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
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
$73,743
Earnings (4yr)
$110,977
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
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
+$32k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,173
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$63,446
Earnings (4yr)
$85,070
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
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 (2yr)
$49,840
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$315k
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
$92,250
Earnings (4yr)
$81,169
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k

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.