College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of New Mexico-Main Campus

Albuquerque, NM 16,686 Undergrads 57.1% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$20,973
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$17,478
After Aid
Median Earnings
$44,792
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$17,478
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$44,792
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate57.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients37.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time81.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS61.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
95.5%
SAT Avg
1,047
SAT Reading
25th: 460-75th: 590
SAT Math
25th: 440-75th: 570
ACT Composite
25th: 192375th: 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
+$395k
-$2k
-$90k
Median Cost$17k/yr
+$332k
-$65k
-$152k
Full Cost$21k/yr
+$319k
-$77k
-$165k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$17k/yr
Never
-242%
Full Cost$21k/yr
Never
-219%
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-279%

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-112%
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

Certificates

Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,816
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k

Associate's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$225k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$10,169
Earnings (5yr)
$31,857
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
Physical Sciences
AssocCIP: 4001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$86,437
Lifetime Value Added
+$336k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
AssocCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$28,157
Lifetime Value Added
-$210k

Bachelor's Degrees

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$17,839
Earnings (5yr)
$82,671
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
American Sign Language
BachCIP: 1616
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (2yr)
$23,456
Lifetime Value Added
-$315k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$19,600
Earnings (5yr)
$35,253
Lifetime Value Added
-$226k
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$310k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$18,975
Earnings (5yr)
$65,132
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$17,251
Earnings (5yr)
$57,024
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$17,960
Earnings (5yr)
$65,841
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$19,775
Earnings (5yr)
$89,830
Lifetime Value Added
+$205k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$24,091
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$258k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$18,721
Earnings (5yr)
$84,508
Lifetime Value Added
+$165k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5110
Median Debt
$17,883
Earnings (2yr)
$52,524
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$15,734
Earnings (5yr)
$53,567
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$22,774
Earnings (5yr)
$116,333
Lifetime Value Added
+$402k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$111,053
Lifetime Value Added
+$363k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,220
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$63,869
Lifetime Value Added
+$9k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (5yr)
$28,412
Lifetime Value Added
-$284k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$18,450
Earnings (5yr)
$62,431
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$112,610
Lifetime Value Added
+$375k
Engineering Science
BachCIP: 1413
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$56,415
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$44,977
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Environmental Design
BachCIP: 0404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,529
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
$20,895
Earnings (5yr)
$47,937
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1901
Median Debt
$19,233
Earnings (5yr)
$39,308
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$15,800
Earnings (5yr)
$34,721
Lifetime Value Added
-$230k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$20,323
Earnings (5yr)
$33,069
Lifetime Value Added
-$244k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$19,200
Earnings (5yr)
$48,479
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
International/Global Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$17,245
Earnings (2yr)
$33,637
Lifetime Value Added
-$222k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,500
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$19,428
Earnings (5yr)
$46,977
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$30,127
Lifetime Value Added
-$270k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$17,764
Earnings (5yr)
$102,379
Lifetime Value Added
+$298k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$31,672
Lifetime Value Added
-$256k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$24,165
Earnings (5yr)
$43,565
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$17,653
Earnings (5yr)
$57,569
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,684
Earnings (5yr)
$45,076
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (5yr)
$89,189
Lifetime Value Added
+$200k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
$13,984
Earnings (5yr)
$48,122
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (5yr)
$54,218
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$44,905
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$48,398
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$47,441
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (5yr)
$58,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Visual and Performing Arts, General
BachCIP: 5001
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$39,053
Lifetime Value Added
-$193k

Master's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$20,731
Earnings (5yr)
$91,240
Lifetime Value Added
+$332k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
MastCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$78,496
Earnings (2yr)
$105,465
Lifetime Value Added
+$509k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,126
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$32,073
Earnings (5yr)
$89,932
Lifetime Value Added
+$321k
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning
MastCIP: 0403
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,572
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$61,020
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$40,574
Earnings (5yr)
$67,560
Lifetime Value Added
+$128k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$103,078
Lifetime Value Added
+$488k
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
MastCIP: 1110
Median Debt
$30,625
Earnings (2yr)
$85,391
Lifetime Value Added
+$327k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$25,048
Earnings (5yr)
$74,671
Lifetime Value Added
+$190k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
MastCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$92,632
Lifetime Value Added
+$393k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$34,701
Earnings (2yr)
$35,060
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
Mechanical Engineering
MastCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$92,632
Lifetime Value Added
+$393k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$38,240
Earnings (5yr)
$42,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$41,889
Earnings (5yr)
$75,670
Lifetime Value Added
+$198k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$32,069
Earnings (2yr)
$55,964
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$61,577
Earnings (5yr)
$120,488
Lifetime Value Added
+$583k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$62,787
Earnings (2yr)
$60,771
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$38,562
Earnings (5yr)
$52,581
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$47,084
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$19,950
Earnings (5yr)
$55,130
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$25,468
Earnings (5yr)
$61,756
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k

Doctoral Degrees

Engineering, General
DocCIP: 1401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$114,892
Lifetime Value Added
+$392k
History
DocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,823
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Law
DocCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$91,267
Earnings (5yr)
$80,457
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
Medicine
DocCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$156,468
Earnings (5yr)
$192,316
Lifetime Value Added
+$899k
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
DocCIP: 5120
Median Debt
$117,989
Earnings (5yr)
$144,558
Lifetime Value Added
+$555k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$135,393
Lifetime Value Added
+$549k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$78,753
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k

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.