College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of North Carolina Asheville

Asheville, NC 2,790 Undergrads 64.5% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$21,061
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,865
After Aid
Median Earnings
$44,030
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$12,865
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$44,030
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate64.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients34.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time90.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS62.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
93.9%
SAT Avg
1,247
SAT Reading
25th: 60063575th: 690
SAT Math
25th: 57059575th: 660
ACT Composite
25th: 222675th: 29

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
+$389k
-$8k
-$96k
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$342k
-$54k
-$142k
Full Cost$21k/yr
+$313k
-$84k
-$172k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$13k/yr
Never
-307%
Full Cost$21k/yr
Never
-226%
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-292%

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-115%
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
$19,550
Earnings (5yr)
$61,246
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$22,228
Earnings (5yr)
$37,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$186k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$18,856
Earnings (5yr)
$57,584
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$12,825
Earnings (5yr)
$55,189
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$32,802
Lifetime Value Added
-$230k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$22,147
Earnings (5yr)
$94,030
Lifetime Value Added
+$253k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,052
Lifetime Value Added
-$320k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$18,971
Earnings (5yr)
$54,370
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
Engineering, General
BachCIP: 1401
Median Debt
$30,513
Earnings (5yr)
$91,514
Lifetime Value Added
+$234k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$35,906
Lifetime Value Added
-$204k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$20,442
Earnings (5yr)
$32,441
Lifetime Value Added
-$233k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$16,313
Earnings (5yr)
$42,899
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$40,419
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,282
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$30,830
Lifetime Value Added
-$247k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$22,354
Earnings (5yr)
$41,988
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$21,718
Earnings (5yr)
$48,101
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$40,008
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$40,255
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$34,708
Lifetime Value Added
-$214k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$20,585
Earnings (5yr)
$38,232
Lifetime Value Added
-$184k
Visual and Performing Arts, General
BachCIP: 5001
Median Debt
$22,582
Earnings (5yr)
$45,049
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k

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.