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University of Nevada-Reno
Reno, NV 15,723 Undergrads 62.3% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$24,702
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$15,402
After Aid
Median Earnings
$60,614
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$15,402
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$60,614
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate62.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients26.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time87.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS76.8%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
85.3%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: -58575th: -
SAT Math
25th: -58075th: -
ACT Composite
25th: -2375th: -
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
+$522k
+$125k
+$37k
Median Cost$15k/yr
+$466k
+$70k
-$18k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$433k
+$36k
-$52k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
41
∞
Median Cost$15k/yr
Never
-33%
Full Cost$25k/yr
Never
-58%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year 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-6%
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-51%
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
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$18,152
Earnings (5yr)
$80,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$145k
Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs
BachCIP: 0113
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,563
Lifetime Value Added
-$224k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (5yr)
$49,297
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$14,024
Earnings (5yr)
$67,285
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,321
Earnings (5yr)
$58,918
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$17,975
Earnings (5yr)
$62,753
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (5yr)
$64,915
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Business/Managerial Economics
BachCIP: 5206
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$74,982
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$86,398
Lifetime Value Added
+$186k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$16,250
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$250k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$22,342
Earnings (5yr)
$83,066
Lifetime Value Added
+$161k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$17,232
Earnings (5yr)
$61,967
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$17,479
Earnings (5yr)
$59,487
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$65,704
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$107,148
Lifetime Value Added
+$342k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$17,930
Earnings (5yr)
$58,744
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,774
Lifetime Value Added
-$286k
Education, Other
BachCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,617
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$17,250
Earnings (5yr)
$96,796
Lifetime Value Added
+$264k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$24,355
Earnings (5yr)
$43,667
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
BachCIP: 1414
Median Debt
$24,357
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$15,750
Earnings (5yr)
$77,047
Lifetime Value Added
+$116k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$41,469
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
Forestry
BachCIP: 0305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,927
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,087
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$19,021
Earnings (2yr)
$44,971
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Geological/Geophysical Engineering
BachCIP: 1439
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$55,964
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
BachCIP: 5100
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$58,380
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (5yr)
$55,130
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (5yr)
$49,802
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
$13,744
Earnings (5yr)
$61,572
Lifetime Value Added
-$1k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$21,094
Earnings (5yr)
$52,794
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$53,852
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$55,997
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$68,166
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$13,462
Earnings (5yr)
$77,008
Lifetime Value Added
+$116k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$21,955
Earnings (5yr)
$87,851
Lifetime Value Added
+$197k
Mining and Mineral Engineering
BachCIP: 1421
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$94,923
Lifetime Value Added
+$250k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$44,738
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (5yr)
$62,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
BachCIP: 2615
Median Debt
$20,833
Earnings (5yr)
$63,332
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Nutrition Sciences
BachCIP: 3019
Median Debt
$19,800
Earnings (5yr)
$49,401
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$17,891
Earnings (5yr)
$57,762
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$18,283
Earnings (5yr)
$49,525
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$93,888
Lifetime Value Added
+$242k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$13,250
Earnings (5yr)
$47,651
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$19,019
Earnings (5yr)
$65,551
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$16,000
Earnings (5yr)
$37,153
Lifetime Value Added
-$202k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,321
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$57,860
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,439
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Biotechnology
MastCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,856
Lifetime Value Added
+$9k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$30,115
Earnings (5yr)
$111,459
Lifetime Value Added
+$509k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$102,489
Lifetime Value Added
+$432k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$72,306
Lifetime Value Added
+$173k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$131,367
Lifetime Value Added
+$679k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (5yr)
$62,304
Lifetime Value Added
+$85k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
MastCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$54,713
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$255k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$75,814
Lifetime Value Added
+$203k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$55,964
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$43,452
Earnings (5yr)
$67,576
Lifetime Value Added
+$132k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$137,609
Lifetime Value Added
+$732k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$31,938
Earnings (5yr)
$68,581
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,121
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$39,548
Earnings (5yr)
$60,099
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$30,948
Earnings (5yr)
$57,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Doctoral Degrees
Psychology, General
DocCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$98,544
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
Professional Degrees
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$172,471
Earnings (5yr)
$189,236
Lifetime Value Added
+$885k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, 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 should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.