College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

University of Missouri-Kansas City

Kansas City, MO 6,817 Undergrads 58.2% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$25,320
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,310
After Aid
Median Earnings
$65,925
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$13,310
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$65,925
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$59,637
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate58.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age23.1
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients39.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time87.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
72.2%
SAT Avg
1,204
SAT Reading
25th: 64065775th: 760
SAT Math
25th: 65066875th: 790
ACT Composite
25th: 202675th: 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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$583k
+$116k
+$98k
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$535k
+$68k
+$50k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$491k
+$25k
+$7k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
32
Median Cost$13k/yr
41
105%
Full Cost$25k/yr
59
8%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return112%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-20%
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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,699
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$73,096
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$105k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$59,183
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$63,569
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$20,803
Earnings (4yr)
$60,950
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,874
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$21,375
Earnings (4yr)
$85,055
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$197k
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (4yr)
$49,135
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Median Debt
$21,138
Earnings (4yr)
$76,216
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$21,773
Earnings (4yr)
$97,043
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$288k
Median Debt
$16,639
Earnings (4yr)
$53,113
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$28,834
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
-$261k
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$64,838
Natl Median: $68,061
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$91,326
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$244k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,584
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,910
Earnings (4yr)
$39,194
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,630
Earnings (4yr)
$58,973
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$49,096
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Median Debt
$17,291
Earnings (4yr)
$52,117
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,933
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$268k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,748
Natl Median: $88,839
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$90,588
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$239k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$18,740
Earnings (4yr)
$42,708
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,265
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$284k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$11,273
Earnings (4yr)
$51,417
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$17,801
Earnings (4yr)
$47,928
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Median Debt
$22,900
Earnings (4yr)
$88,249
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$221k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,007
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$49,936
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Median Debt
$21,566
Earnings (4yr)
$41,228
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,772
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Music
PB-CertCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,232
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,346
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (4yr)
$86,632
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $235,700
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$129,960
Earnings (4yr)
$222,572
Natl Median: $162,386
Lifetime Value Added
+$1268k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$97,959
Natl Median: $127,217
Lifetime Value Added
+$233k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (4yr)
$119,601
Natl Median: $125,988
Lifetime Value Added
+$387k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,837
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)
$96,926
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$189k
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
$40,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,978
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,062
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,306
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
-$238k
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,971
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
-$262k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,782
Earnings (4yr)
$68,495
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,232
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$111,394
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$315k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$104,656
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
+$239k
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
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,856
Natl Median: $101,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,355
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
$32,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,852
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$252k
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
$31,500
Earnings (4yr)
$60,493
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Real Estate
MastCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $135,104
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$43,050
Earnings (4yr)
$139,097
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$555k
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
$39,438
Earnings (4yr)
$63,357
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,221
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$352k
Median Debt
$60,587
Earnings (4yr)
$60,253
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,768
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$144,240
Natl Median: $207,164
Lifetime Value Added
+$781k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,709
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,683
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,578
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
DocCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $87,373
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,831
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$39,598
Earnings (4yr)
$54,810
Natl Median: $59,592
Lifetime Value Added
-$294k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$105,723
Earnings (5yr)
$224,447
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$923k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,168
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Dentistry
ProfCIP: 5104
Median Debt
$220,937
Earnings (4yr)
$173,323
Natl Median: $170,812
Lifetime Value Added
+$586k
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$97,000
Earnings (4yr)
$92,296
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$183,284
Earnings (4yr)
$127,872
Natl Median: $112,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$252k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$140,469
Natl Median: $138,348
Lifetime Value Added
+$325k

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.