College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of Nevada-Las Vegas

Las Vegas, NV 24,622 Undergrads 53.8% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$19,638
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$10,359
After Aid
Median Earnings
$62,637
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$10,359
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$62,637
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$55,037
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate53.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age22.7
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients42.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time81.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS67.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
96.2%
SAT Avg
1,094
SAT Reading
25th: 510-75th: 630
SAT Math
25th: 500-75th: 610
ACT Composite
25th: 18-75th: 25

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
+$557k
+$90k
+$72k
Median Cost$10k/yr
+$519k
+$53k
+$35k
Full Cost$20k/yr
+$486k
+$19k
+$2k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
35
∞
Median Cost$10k/yr
44
94%
Full Cost$20k/yr
63
2%
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 Return107%

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-15%
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

Dance
CertCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $28,839
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$16,007
Earnings (4yr)
$74,490
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$127k
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$85,095
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$208k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$17,086
Earnings (4yr)
$40,630
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$22,278
Earnings (4yr)
$72,468
Natl Median: $66,914
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$18,668
Earnings (4yr)
$62,087
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (4yr)
$61,524
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$20,225
Earnings (4yr)
$90,474
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$249k
Median Debt
$18,618
Earnings (4yr)
$56,944
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$93,830
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$274k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$19,954
Earnings (4yr)
$94,475
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$279k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,124
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,572
Earnings (4yr)
$57,556
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,668
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
$21,625
Earnings (4yr)
$36,925
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
-$180k
Data Processing
BachCIP: 1103
Median Debt
$20,020
Earnings (4yr)
$84,099
Natl Median: $75,978
Lifetime Value Added
+$200k
Median Debt
$18,929
Earnings (4yr)
$51,437
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Median Debt
$19,663
Earnings (4yr)
$40,033
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$18,069
Earnings (4yr)
$72,119
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k
Median Debt
$24,896
Earnings (4yr)
$100,765
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$327k
Median Debt
$22,362
Earnings (4yr)
$48,773
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,787
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$42,317
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
Median Debt
$14,875
Earnings (4yr)
$76,319
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$140k
Median Debt
$25,100
Earnings (4yr)
$38,390
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,278
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,125
Earnings (4yr)
$64,926
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$19,037
Earnings (4yr)
$39,477
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$58,719
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Median Debt
$22,391
Earnings (4yr)
$58,130
Natl Median: $48,597
Lifetime Value Added
-$1k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,369
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,235
Earnings (4yr)
$63,681
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,387
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$15,580
Earnings (4yr)
$58,919
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$23,547
Earnings (4yr)
$70,999
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
Median Debt
$19,625
Earnings (4yr)
$97,901
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$305k
Median Debt
$27,473
Earnings (4yr)
$48,692
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$30,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,161
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Nutrition Sciences
BachCIP: 3019
Median Debt
$16,442
Earnings (4yr)
$58,160
Natl Median: $60,053
Lifetime Value Added
-$795
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$19,239
Earnings (5yr)
$50,646
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,855
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$51,200
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,433
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Real Estate
BachCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,821
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (4yr)
$94,600
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$280k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$32,982
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$220k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,542
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,344
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$19,109
Earnings (4yr)
$48,528
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Median Debt
$9,500
Earnings (4yr)
$60,958
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$19,350
Earnings (4yr)
$53,798
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Median Debt
$21,226
Earnings (4yr)
$56,095
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,070
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,010
Natl Median: $62,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$19,820
Earnings (4yr)
$98,168
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$205k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $235,700
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,633
Natl Median: $77,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$1k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,940
Natl Median: $74,222
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,398
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$114,535
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$348k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$95,788
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$184k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,568
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$333k
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $105,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$67,951
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Data Processing
MastCIP: 1103
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $156,135
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,150
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
-$196k
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (4yr)
$73,232
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,486
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
Median Debt
$45,094
Earnings (4yr)
$96,306
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$189k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$84,365
Natl Median: $74,856
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,993
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,000
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,262
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$185k
Nutrition Sciences
MastCIP: 3019
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,126
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,681
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,660
Earnings (4yr)
$82,864
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$71k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,484
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
Median Debt
$34,991
Earnings (4yr)
$141,227
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$579k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,596
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$347k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$47,000
Earnings (4yr)
$66,253
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,875
Earnings (4yr)
$66,970
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,838
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$199k
Median Debt
$33,205
Earnings (4yr)
$60,458
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $207,164
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,509
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, Other
Gr-CertCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,921
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, Other
Gr-CertCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,828
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,495
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Administration
Gr-CertCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,022
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Sciences, General
Gr-CertCIP: 4501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,031
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,709
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Anthropology
DocCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,473
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,233
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
DocCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $178,476
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,427
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,031
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,039
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,768
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
DocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,070
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,341
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Natl Median: $59,592
Lifetime Value Added
-$288k
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,153
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,908
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
DocCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,962
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $119,220
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$129,750
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$277k
Median Debt
$93,500
Earnings (4yr)
$94,448
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
Sociology
DocCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,739
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,822
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Dentistry
ProfCIP: 5104
Median Debt
$317,068
Earnings (4yr)
$170,437
Natl Median: $170,812
Lifetime Value Added
+$576k
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$82,985
Earnings (4yr)
$108,006
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$116k

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.