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University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, MO 23,118 Undergrads 72.4% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$28,948
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$19,889
After Aid
Median Earnings
$63,403
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$19,889
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$63,403
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate72.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients21.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time95.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS81.6%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
77.0%
SAT Avg
1,247
SAT Reading
25th: 58062575th: 670
SAT Math
25th: 57061575th: 660
ACT Composite
25th: 232775th: 29
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
+$543k
+$147k
+$59k
Median Cost$20k/yr
+$472k
+$75k
-$13k
Full Cost$29k/yr
+$439k
+$43k
-$45k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
36
∞
Median Cost$20k/yr
Never
-18%
Full Cost$29k/yr
Never
-43%
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 Return17%
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-49%
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
$20,600
Earnings (5yr)
$96,383
Lifetime Value Added
+$245k
Agricultural Business and Management
BachCIP: 0101
Median Debt
$17,499
Earnings (5yr)
$68,698
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Agricultural Mechanization
BachCIP: 0102
Median Debt
$19,334
Earnings (5yr)
$74,076
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
Agriculture, General
BachCIP: 0100
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,852
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$68,239
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$57,523
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Apparel and Textiles
BachCIP: 1909
Median Debt
$24,932
Earnings (5yr)
$70,924
Lifetime Value Added
+$54k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,671
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
BachCIP: 4004
Median Debt
$18,625
Earnings (5yr)
$56,605
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$25,437
Earnings (5yr)
$59,872
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Biological/Biosystems Engineering
BachCIP: 1445
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$77,295
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,599
Earnings (5yr)
$65,628
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$80,927
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$25,804
Earnings (5yr)
$91,298
Lifetime Value Added
+$207k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$308k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$80,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,964
Lifetime Value Added
-$337k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$59,233
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (5yr)
$61,022
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$20,906
Earnings (5yr)
$93,018
Lifetime Value Added
+$220k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$96,583
Lifetime Value Added
+$246k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$18,315
Earnings (5yr)
$73,165
Lifetime Value Added
+$71k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$95,739
Lifetime Value Added
+$240k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$49,645
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies
BachCIP: 1904
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$65,217
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$46,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Food Science and Technology
BachCIP: 0110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1905
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$58,530
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Forestry
BachCIP: 0305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$187k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,848
Lifetime Value Added
-$247k
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
BachCIP: 5100
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$64,581
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$54,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (5yr)
$52,578
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Housing and Human Environments
BachCIP: 1906
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$57,409
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,516
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Industrial Engineering
BachCIP: 1435
Median Debt
$26,512
Earnings (5yr)
$96,907
Lifetime Value Added
+$249k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$68,004
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$53,300
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (2yr)
$18,401
Lifetime Value Added
-$370k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$16,454
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$21,843
Earnings (5yr)
$92,736
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (5yr)
$59,357
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$44,555
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies
BachCIP: 3101
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$55,583
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$15,212
Earnings (2yr)
$43,426
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
$17,924
Earnings (5yr)
$58,941
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$21,125
Earnings (5yr)
$69,949
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,421
Earnings (5yr)
$54,167
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$74,241
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$66,147
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$20,073
Earnings (5yr)
$49,967
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,854
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$19,455
Earnings (5yr)
$42,239
Lifetime Value Added
-$175k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$20,475
Earnings (5yr)
$42,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$16,250
Earnings (2yr)
$38,721
Lifetime Value Added
-$185k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$16,250
Earnings (5yr)
$93,114
Lifetime Value Added
+$344k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
MastCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$65,797
Lifetime Value Added
+$143k
Business/Commerce, General
MastCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$35,202
Earnings (5yr)
$123,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$604k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$44,923
Earnings (5yr)
$56,840
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$18,001
Earnings (5yr)
$50,970
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$27,367
Earnings (5yr)
$63,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$33,421
Earnings (5yr)
$112,520
Lifetime Value Added
+$510k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
MastCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Journalism
MastCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$20,877
Earnings (5yr)
$67,508
Lifetime Value Added
+$123k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,168
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
MastCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,427
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$21,455
Earnings (5yr)
$75,731
Lifetime Value Added
+$194k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$28,442
Earnings (5yr)
$70,901
Lifetime Value Added
+$153k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$110,845
Lifetime Value Added
+$496k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$29,450
Earnings (5yr)
$73,238
Lifetime Value Added
+$173k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$32,228
Earnings (5yr)
$58,693
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$21,069
Earnings (5yr)
$58,464
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$16,684
Earnings (5yr)
$58,354
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Graduate Certificates
Public Health
Gr-CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$18,864
Earnings (5yr)
$89,546
Lifetime Value Added
+$404k
Doctoral Degrees
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$104,095
Lifetime Value Added
+$254k
Curriculum and Instruction
DocCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$31,045
Earnings (5yr)
$101,542
Lifetime Value Added
+$236k
Political Science and Government
DocCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$64,990
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$28,485
Earnings (5yr)
$120,764
Lifetime Value Added
+$375k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$76,430
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Professional Degrees
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$73,501
Earnings (5yr)
$84,543
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$197,576
Earnings (5yr)
$158,239
Lifetime Value Added
+$645k
Veterinary Medicine
ProfCIP: 0180
Median Debt
$160,825
Earnings (5yr)
$114,498
Lifetime Value Added
+$330k
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.