College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, ND 9,981 Undergrads 58.6% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$25,855
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$18,131
After Aid
Median Earnings
$72,043
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$18,131
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$72,043
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$67,456
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate58.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)22.0
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients20.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time77.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS84.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
76.9%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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
+$623k
+$153k
+$136k
Median Cost$18k/yr
+$557k
+$87k
+$71k
Full Cost$26k/yr
+$530k
+$60k
+$43k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
30
∞
Median Cost$18k/yr
39
109%
Full Cost$26k/yr
45
47%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
  • 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 Return180%

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-3%

Program ROI Analysis

These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,891
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$9,445
Earnings (4yr)
$75,339
Natl Median: $38,675
Lifetime Value Added
+$334k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,213
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,211
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,065
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,696
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$18,250
Earnings (4yr)
$82,187
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$159k
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Air Transportation
BachCIP: 4901
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (4yr)
$104,472
Natl Median: $85,825
Lifetime Value Added
+$329k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,997
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,716
Earnings (4yr)
$50,191
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
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Median Debt
$21,973
Earnings (4yr)
$68,932
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$87,309
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$199k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$27,500
Earnings (4yr)
$87,828
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$202k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,345
Earnings (4yr)
$78,774
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$133k
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Median Debt
$20,450
Earnings (4yr)
$56,065
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
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Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,218
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$86,268
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$191k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,006
Natl Median: $78,929
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
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Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (4yr)
$55,251
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,236
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$274k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,130
Natl Median: $55,753
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$106,162
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$342k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,961
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,454
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,171
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,437
Earnings (4yr)
$65,856
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,131
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$45,918
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,880
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,283
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,688
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,202
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
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International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,304
Earnings (4yr)
$71,538
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
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Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$64,912
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,665
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
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Median Debt
$28,102
Earnings (4yr)
$89,704
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$217k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$70,947
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
+$73k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$99,932
Natl Median: $104,823
Lifetime Value Added
+$295k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,213
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
$16,375
Earnings (4yr)
$66,535
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,333
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,501
Earnings (4yr)
$79,624
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$140k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,558
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,352
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
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Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (4yr)
$62,726
Natl Median: $57,805
Lifetime Value Added
+$9k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,063
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
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Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,001
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$21,375
Earnings (4yr)
$49,665
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$21,125
Earnings (5yr)
$61,924
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
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Median Debt
$22,209
Earnings (4yr)
$45,955
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,253
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,260
Natl Median: $44,055
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
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Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,231
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,944
Natl Median: $78,228
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
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Public Policy Analysis
PB-CertCIP: 4405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,838
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,623
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,414
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Air Transportation
MastCIP: 4901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$124,835
Natl Median: $110,104
Lifetime Value Added
+$424k
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Median Debt
$54,698
Earnings (4yr)
$140,421
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$559k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,482
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,859
Earnings (4yr)
$126,170
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$436k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,468
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$33,500
Earnings (4yr)
$72,022
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$38,793
Earnings (4yr)
$66,378
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,269
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,888
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $94,646
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,051
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $147,771
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)
$59,417
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
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Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (4yr)
$244,209
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$1435k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,797
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
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Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$40,724
Earnings (4yr)
$72,577
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
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Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$29,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,392
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$50,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,451
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,264
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,382
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$180k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $102,099
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,683
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $141,187
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)
$100,034
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,427
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$43,400
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,550
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,630
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,831
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: $101,435
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $87,076
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,943
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,153
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$80,900
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,822
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$69,233
Earnings (4yr)
$90,309
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
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Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$182,056
Earnings (4yr)
$116,665
Natl Median: $112,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$153k
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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.