College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, NC 14,062 Undergrads 58.9% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$21,373
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$10,965
After Aid
Median Earnings
$51,594
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$10,965
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$51,594
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$48,160
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate58.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age22.5
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients49.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time83.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS67.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
88.5%
SAT Avg
1,193
SAT Reading
25th: 59060875th: 685
SAT Math
25th: 56057075th: 670
ACT Composite
25th: 222475th: 27

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
+$467k
+$30
-$17k
Median Cost$11k/yr
+$427k
-$39k
-$57k
Full Cost$21k/yr
+$390k
-$77k
-$94k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$11k/yr
Never
-144%
Full Cost$21k/yr
Never
-123%
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 Return-116%

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-75%
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

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$19,979
Earnings (4yr)
$70,389
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$44,228
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Median Debt
$25,237
Earnings (4yr)
$51,510
Natl Median: $57,640
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
BachCIP: 5010
Median Debt
$22,976
Earnings (4yr)
$42,920
Natl Median: $48,240
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Median Debt
$20,672
Earnings (4yr)
$61,940
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$25,407
Earnings (4yr)
$52,194
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Median Debt
$23,137
Earnings (4yr)
$56,225
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Median Debt
$21,125
Earnings (4yr)
$60,309
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$43,231
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Median Debt
$20,537
Earnings (4yr)
$61,620
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$24,403
Earnings (4yr)
$86,372
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$215k
Median Debt
$23,914
Earnings (4yr)
$68,293
Natl Median: $73,587
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,084
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,394
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$41,108
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,863
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Median Debt
$17,583
Earnings (4yr)
$38,366
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,717
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$45,294
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Median Debt
$22,520
Earnings (4yr)
$64,077
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Median Debt
$24,360
Earnings (4yr)
$35,628
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$193k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,532
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$23,139
Earnings (4yr)
$42,251
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Median Debt
$21,875
Earnings (4yr)
$44,625
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Median Debt
$24,993
Earnings (4yr)
$46,140
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,099
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$46,146
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Median Debt
$25,832
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$18,759
Earnings (4yr)
$61,555
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
Median Debt
$22,748
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$26,250
Earnings (4yr)
$40,778
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Nutrition Sciences
BachCIP: 3019
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$51,802
Natl Median: $60,053
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,070
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$42,838
Natl Median: $50,983
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,114
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$20,373
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
$23,552
Earnings (4yr)
$51,657
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,762
Earnings (4yr)
$43,825
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$24,966
Earnings (4yr)
$53,124
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Median Debt
$21,150
Earnings (4yr)
$80,383
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$169k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
-$322k
Median Debt
$21,553
Earnings (4yr)
$50,695
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$44,592
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$24,275
Earnings (4yr)
$43,427
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$48,151
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$22,625
Earnings (4yr)
$51,275
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Median Debt
$22,354
Earnings (4yr)
$51,778
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$48,671
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $104,114
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $128,842
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,708
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
PB-CertCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,139
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
PB-CertCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,232
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,346
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,414
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$87,640
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
Median Debt
$46,488
Earnings (4yr)
$56,241
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,913
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$33,363
Earnings (4yr)
$104,581
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$260k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$63,749
Natl Median: $97,526
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$32,308
Earnings (4yr)
$63,220
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,083
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$120,866
Natl Median: $114,420
Lifetime Value Added
+$402k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,393
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Dance
MastCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $55,404
Lifetime Value Added
-$463k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,073
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,373
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
-$233k
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$28,636
Earnings (4yr)
$70,268
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,232
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Genetics
MastCIP: 2608
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,660
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Gerontology
MastCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,003
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$275k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,524
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,993
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,775
Earnings (4yr)
$59,021
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Median Debt
$29,184
Earnings (4yr)
$52,258
Natl Median: $56,301
Lifetime Value Added
-$205k
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$29,590
Earnings (4yr)
$40,517
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$320k
Nutrition Sciences
MastCIP: 3019
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,984
Natl Median: $67,126
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,803
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$34,694
Earnings (4yr)
$58,244
Natl Median: $70,267
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$78,025
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$32,676
Earnings (4yr)
$63,897
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$105,380
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$267k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,598
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$427k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$25,603
Earnings (4yr)
$59,609
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$45,500
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$253k
Median Debt
$31,791
Earnings (4yr)
$56,709
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k
Median Debt
$25,912
Earnings (4yr)
$52,768
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$201k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$82,440
Natl Median: $91,271
Lifetime Value Added
+$177k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,168
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
Gr-CertCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,756
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,226
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Nutrition Sciences
Gr-CertCIP: 3019
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,905
Natl Median: $67,291
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,709
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,729
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,683
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,343
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,031
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
DocCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$81,604
Natl Median: $87,373
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$94,408
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,550
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,934
Natl Median: $65,831
Lifetime Value Added
-$270k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,469
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
DocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,550
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,538
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $132,346
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
DocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,755
Natl Median: $59,592
Lifetime Value Added
-$240k
Nutrition Sciences
DocCIP: 3019
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,750
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,994
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)
$140,488
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$354k
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)
$76,973
Natl Median: $81,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,794
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,168
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,026
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,172
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.