College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of Missouri-Kansas City

Kansas City, MO 6,817 Undergrads 57.9% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$27,095
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,778
After Aid
Median Earnings
$65,099
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$13,778
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$65,099
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$63,110
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate57.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)23.1
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients43.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time87.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.2%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
72.2%
SAT Avg
1,204
SAT Reading
25th: 64072575th: 760
SAT Math
25th: 65074575th: 790
ACT Composite
25th: 202475th: 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
+$569k
+$99k
+$83k
Median Cost$14k/yr
+$520k
+$50k
+$33k
Full Cost$27k/yr
+$472k
+$2k
-$15k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
34
∞
Median Cost$14k/yr
45
67%
Full Cost$27k/yr
Never
-15%
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 Return67%

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-35%

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
$17,625
Earnings (4yr)
$73,096
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
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Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$18,725
Earnings (4yr)
$59,183
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
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Median Debt
$15,250
Earnings (4yr)
$63,569
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$18,620
Earnings (4yr)
$60,950
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,874
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$85,055
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$197k
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Median Debt
$15,125
Earnings (4yr)
$49,135
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,216
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$15,250
Earnings (4yr)
$97,043
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$288k
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Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$28,834
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
-$263k
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Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$64,838
Natl Median: $68,061
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$82,244
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$163k
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Median Debt
$13,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,584
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$39,194
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$58,973
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,096
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
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Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,117
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,181
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
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Median Debt
$20,429
Earnings (4yr)
$90,588
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$239k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$42,708
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,308
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
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Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$286k
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Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,750
Earnings (4yr)
$51,417
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$16,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,928
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
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Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$88,249
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$221k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,936
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
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Median Debt
$20,125
Earnings (4yr)
$41,228
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,772
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
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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
-
Earnings (4yr)
$86,632
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $235,700
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$138,109
Earnings (4yr)
$222,572
Natl Median: $162,386
Lifetime Value Added
+$1268k
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Median Debt
$97,988
Earnings (2yr)
$97,959
Natl Median: $126,113
Lifetime Value Added
+$233k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$119,601
Natl Median: $125,988
Lifetime Value Added
+$387k
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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
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Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,978
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
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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
-$240k
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Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,971
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
-$265k
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Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (4yr)
$68,495
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$111,394
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$315k
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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
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
-$206k
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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
$39,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,852
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$255k
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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
$24,842
Earnings (4yr)
$60,493
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
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Real Estate
MastCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $135,104
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$43,125
Earnings (4yr)
$139,097
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$555k
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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
$32,428
Earnings (4yr)
$63,357
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
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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
-$355k
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Median Debt
$47,862
Earnings (4yr)
$60,253
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,768
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
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Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$230,088
Natl Median: $207,164
Lifetime Value Added
+$1478k
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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: $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
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,810
Natl Median: $59,592
Lifetime Value Added
-$297k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$99,302
Earnings (5yr)
$151,184
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$400k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,168
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Dentistry
ProfCIP: 5104
Median Debt
$236,232
Earnings (4yr)
$173,323
Natl Median: $170,812
Lifetime Value Added
+$584k
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Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$95,146
Earnings (4yr)
$92,296
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
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Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$191,495
Earnings (4yr)
$127,872
Natl Median: $112,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$251k
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Median Debt
$121,357
Earnings (5yr)
$143,158
Natl Median: $138,348
Lifetime Value Added
+$342k
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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.