College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

University of Minnesota-Duluth

Duluth, MN 7,336 Undergrads 64.4% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$28,445
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$17,395
After Aid
Median Earnings
$69,724
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$17,395
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$69,724
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$67,944
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate64.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)20.4
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients23.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time95.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS83.2%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
88.8%
SAT Avg
1,251
SAT Reading
25th: 59065075th: 675
SAT Math
25th: 59064075th: 675
ACT Composite
25th: 232675th: 28

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
+$605k
+$135k
+$119k
Median Cost$17k/yr
+$543k
+$72k
+$56k
Full Cost$28k/yr
+$503k
+$33k
+$16k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
31
∞
Median Cost$17k/yr
41
90%
Full Cost$28k/yr
54
16%
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 Return123%

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-21%

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 →

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$70,868
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$291k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
CertCIP: 1510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,671
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,869
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,646
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$74,360
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$299k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$61,010
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,125
Earnings (4yr)
$63,317
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$20,625
Earnings (4yr)
$69,767
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,275
Natl Median: $66,697
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$20,208
Earnings (4yr)
$85,667
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$189k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$66,529
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$25,596
Earnings (4yr)
$79,485
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$60,023
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,362
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,138
Natl Median: $55,384
Lifetime Value Added
-$227k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$19,900
Earnings (4yr)
$91,911
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$236k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$79,939
Natl Median: $73,587
Lifetime Value Added
+$145k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$19,299
Earnings (4yr)
$59,754
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$25,095
Earnings (4yr)
$52,727
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$24,519
Earnings (4yr)
$42,438
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,792
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Education, Other
BachCIP: 1399
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (4yr)
$46,964
Natl Median: $49,113
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$88,305
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$209k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$17,888
Earnings (4yr)
$46,740
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$73,979
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,253
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,569
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,893
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$61,062
Natl Median: $43,283
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$68,386
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Try this program with your own numbers →
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$43,766
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$26,450
Earnings (4yr)
$97,732
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$281k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,925
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$229k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,478
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$74,079
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$75,633
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$88,965
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$214k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,834
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,728
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,452
Natl Median: $50,983
Lifetime Value Added
-$175k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,812
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,625
Earnings (4yr)
$58,256
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$18,852
Earnings (4yr)
$51,891
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,639
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$14,112
Earnings (4yr)
$57,886
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$18,154
Earnings (4yr)
$54,226
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$17,896
Earnings (4yr)
$50,174
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$63,269
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,279
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,059
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$25,786
Earnings (4yr)
$48,669
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,485
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)
-
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$60,630
Earnings (4yr)
$65,227
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,849
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,759
Natl Median: $62,705
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
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)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
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 (4yr)
$100,577
Natl Median: $103,349
Lifetime Value Added
+$214k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$31,569
Earnings (4yr)
$62,641
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Education, General
DocCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $87,373
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.