College ROI

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University of New Orleans

New Orleans, LA 4,638 Undergrads 44.0% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$23,431
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,384
After Aid
Median Earnings
$56,037
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$12,384
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$56,037
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$47,872
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate44.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age22.3
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients47.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time85.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS61.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
74.3%
SAT Avg
1,052
SAT Reading
25th: 48058075th: 616
SAT Math
25th: 45556575th: 625
ACT Composite
25th: 172175th: 23

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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$504k
+$37k
+$19k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$459k
-$8k
-$25k
Full Cost$23k/yr
+$419k
-$48k
-$65k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
47
∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
Never
-57%
Full Cost$23k/yr
Never
-77%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-39%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-59%
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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$14,475
Earnings (4yr)
$59,301
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$1k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$16,743
Earnings (4yr)
$52,671
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Median Debt
$19,683
Earnings (4yr)
$56,058
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$11,500
Earnings (4yr)
$80,704
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$167k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$12,577
Earnings (4yr)
$99,548
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$311k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$28,807
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$258k
Median Debt
$24,750
Earnings (4yr)
$95,630
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$281k
Median Debt
$18,983
Earnings (4yr)
$40,424
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Median Debt
$18,243
Earnings (4yr)
$54,153
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$26,737
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$276k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,987
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,315
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (4yr)
$39,391
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$18,315
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$344k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$17,450
Earnings (4yr)
$51,474
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$13,375
Earnings (4yr)
$91,435
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$249k
Median Debt
$15,874
Earnings (4yr)
$49,023
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$17,767
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$359k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $114,055
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
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,389
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$14,960
Earnings (4yr)
$37,747
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$180k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,087
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$18,668
Earnings (4yr)
$39,243
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Median Debt
$18,744
Earnings (4yr)
$51,652
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,183
Natl Median: $62,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$83,470
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$73k
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
MastCIP: 5010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,572
Natl Median: $59,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$31,401
Earnings (4yr)
$85,215
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$58,970
Natl Median: $79,665
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,464
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
-$254k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering Science
MastCIP: 1413
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$114,412
Natl Median: $123,681
Lifetime Value Added
+$343k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,250
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$423k
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,152
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$295k
Median Debt
$28,770
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $74,856
Lifetime Value Added
-$284k
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
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: $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
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,369
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$318k
Median Debt
$41,812
Earnings (4yr)
$48,203
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$247k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,660
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
-$195k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,286
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$43,798
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$273k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,524
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$283k
Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $114,810
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,526
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,634
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,096
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,110
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: $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: $133,482
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,908
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, Other
DocCIP: 4299
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,857
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,739
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,794
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,485
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.