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University of Nebraska at Kearney
Kearney, NE 4,088 Undergrads 55.2% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$25,808
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,242
After Aid
Median Earnings
$56,647
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$16,242
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$56,647
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate55.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients36.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time88.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.9%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
89.5%
SAT Avg
1,118
SAT Reading
25th: 49552475th: 575
SAT Math
25th: 41051275th: 550
ACT Composite
25th: 192275th: 26
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
+$509k
+$42k
+$24k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$450k
-$17k
-$34k
Full Cost$26k/yr
+$416k
-$51k
-$69k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
45
∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
Never
-59%
Full Cost$26k/yr
Never
-74%
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-35%
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-60%
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
Agricultural Business and Management
BachCIP: 0101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,438
Natl Median: $66,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$24,989
Earnings (4yr)
$77,034
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$18,900
Earnings (4yr)
$67,151
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$18,199
Earnings (4yr)
$64,684
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$21,970
Earnings (4yr)
$53,348
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,988
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$9k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (4yr)
$55,356
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$22,756
Earnings (4yr)
$41,180
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies
BachCIP: 1904
Median Debt
$17,751
Earnings (4yr)
$49,584
Natl Median: $53,262
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$13,920
Earnings (4yr)
$49,521
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs
BachCIP: 5111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,590
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$22,602
Earnings (4yr)
$51,659
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$13,250
Earnings (4yr)
$47,600
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,195
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies
BachCIP: 3101
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,563
Natl Median: $50,983
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,300
Earnings (4yr)
$50,360
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,941
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$42,018
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,203
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,729
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$22,541
Earnings (4yr)
$52,669
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$41,922
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$19,113
Earnings (4yr)
$44,687
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Master's Degrees
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$32,000
Earnings (4yr)
$82,298
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,439
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
-$213k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$38,500
Earnings (4yr)
$60,698
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$16,150
Earnings (4yr)
$60,090
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$26,250
Earnings (4yr)
$69,061
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$25,237
Earnings (4yr)
$59,873
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$26,307
Earnings (4yr)
$62,153
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
MastCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$14,388
Earnings (4yr)
$58,307
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$35,182
Earnings (4yr)
$56,621
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,612
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$17,210
Earnings (4yr)
$64,020
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Graduate Certificates
Educational Administration and Supervision
Gr-CertCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
Gr-CertCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,810
Natl Median: $64,774
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
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 degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.