College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of Nebraska at Omaha

Omaha, NE 11,488 Undergrads 51.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$21,120
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,441
After Aid
Median Earnings
$60,448
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$13,441
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$60,448
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$53,909
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate51.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age22.2
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients34.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time84.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS76.4%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
87.0%
SAT Avg
1,120
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: 192275th: 26

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
+$539k
+$72k
+$55k
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$491k
+$24k
+$7k
Full Cost$21k/yr
+$463k
-$4k
-$21k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
37
∞
Median Cost$13k/yr
58
14%
Full Cost$21k/yr
Never
-28%
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 Return51%

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-32%
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

Certificates

Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (4yr)
$83,720
Natl Median: $50,984
Lifetime Value Added
+$417k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,400
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,615
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,315
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Gerontology
CertCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,636
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Homeland Security
CertCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,995
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
CertCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,689
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Air Transportation
BachCIP: 4901
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$75,314
Natl Median: $85,825
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,722
Earnings (4yr)
$84,938
Natl Median: $89,406
Lifetime Value Added
+$195k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$17,239
Earnings (4yr)
$62,982
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,713
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biotechnology
BachCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,194
Natl Median: $67,097
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$68,065
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$78,663
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$147k
Median Debt
$17,936
Earnings (4yr)
$61,220
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Median Debt
$19,550
Earnings (4yr)
$58,250
Natl Median: $55,384
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$105,102
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$333k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$107,248
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$365k
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$114,504
Natl Median: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
+$420k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,303
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,150
Earnings (4yr)
$95,682
Natl Median: $95,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$277k
Median Debt
$19,688
Earnings (4yr)
$57,957
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
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
Median Debt
$25,091
Earnings (4yr)
$92,565
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$253k
Median Debt
$17,625
Earnings (4yr)
$48,296
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (4yr)
$44,386
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Gerontology
BachCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,051
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$18,831
Earnings (4yr)
$44,068
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Homeland Security
BachCIP: 4303
Median Debt
$20,060
Earnings (4yr)
$64,061
Natl Median: $70,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$82,883
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$180k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$18,797
Earnings (4yr)
$44,945
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,438
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Median Debt
$19,852
Earnings (4yr)
$55,947
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,949
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$12,250
Earnings (4yr)
$46,595
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$65,245
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,768
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,942
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Natural Sciences
BachCIP: 3018
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,935
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,449
Earnings (4yr)
$55,043
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (4yr)
$52,331
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,378
Earnings (4yr)
$50,826
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$19,100
Earnings (4yr)
$54,228
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,482
Earnings (4yr)
$37,986
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$182k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (4yr)
$50,169
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$22,691
Earnings (4yr)
$47,763
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,665
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$19,098
Earnings (4yr)
$56,027
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$48,486
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Biology, General
PB-CertCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,779
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $104,114
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$118,836
Natl Median: $117,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$488k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $128,842
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,228
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,861
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,864
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,122
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Administration
PB-CertCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,234
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,260
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
PB-CertCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,439
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,752
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$95,194
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$173k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,009
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
-$323k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$28,617
Earnings (4yr)
$114,582
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$343k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$39,068
Earnings (4yr)
$68,898
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$76,460
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Gerontology
MastCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,123
Natl Median: $67,618
Lifetime Value Added
-$292k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$118,446
Natl Median: $112,705
Lifetime Value Added
+$376k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$65,053
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,790
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$73,082
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Median Debt
$28,276
Earnings (4yr)
$75,913
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$33,082
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$405k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$30,544
Earnings (4yr)
$60,739
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,333
Earnings (4yr)
$58,383
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,904
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Median Debt
$40,362
Earnings (4yr)
$55,390
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$180k
Median Debt
$17,289
Earnings (4yr)
$58,846
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,488
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,634
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $154,538
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,427
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$96,710
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Gerontology
DocCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,464
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
DocCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,993
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.