College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, ND 9,981 Undergrads 57.3% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$25,605
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$18,551
After Aid
Median Earnings
$69,563
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$18,551
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$69,563
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$63,552
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate57.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age22.0
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients18.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time77.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS84.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
76.9%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: -59075th: -
SAT Math
25th: -61075th: -
ACT Composite
25th: -2375th: -

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
+$610k
+$144k
+$126k
Median Cost$19k/yr
+$544k
+$77k
+$59k
Full Cost$26k/yr
+$518k
+$51k
+$34k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
31
∞
Median Cost$19k/yr
41
89%
Full Cost$26k/yr
48
37%
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 Return166%

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-4%
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

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,891
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$11,201
Earnings (4yr)
$75,339
Natl Median: $38,675
Lifetime Value Added
+$331k
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
$23,581
Earnings (4yr)
$82,187
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$156k
Air Transportation
BachCIP: 4901
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$104,472
Natl Median: $85,825
Lifetime Value Added
+$326k
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
$20,526
Earnings (4yr)
$50,191
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Median Debt
$20,748
Earnings (4yr)
$68,932
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
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
+$195k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$18,211
Earnings (4yr)
$87,828
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$199k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,283
Earnings (4yr)
$78,774
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$130k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,065
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,218
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Median Debt
$24,029
Earnings (4yr)
$86,268
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$187k
Median Debt
$23,100
Earnings (4yr)
$72,006
Natl Median: $78,929
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,251
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,840
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,130
Natl Median: $55,753
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
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
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$106,162
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$339k
Median Debt
$22,195
Earnings (4yr)
$44,961
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$53,454
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
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
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$65,856
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$45,918
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
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
+$22k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,202
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,378
Earnings (4yr)
$71,538
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$23,166
Earnings (4yr)
$64,912
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,665
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$89,704
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$213k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,764
Earnings (4yr)
$70,947
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
+$70k
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
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$99,932
Natl Median: $104,823
Lifetime Value Added
+$291k
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,535
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,620
Earnings (4yr)
$55,333
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
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
$24,639
Earnings (4yr)
$79,624
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$136k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,558
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,352
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,726
Natl Median: $57,805
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
Median Debt
$24,098
Earnings (4yr)
$52,063
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$56,001
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,665
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,374
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Median Debt
$26,467
Earnings (4yr)
$45,955
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,253
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,055
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,231
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,065
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,944
Natl Median: $78,228
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $105,177
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $104,335
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,335
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Administration
PB-CertCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,234
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
-
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
+$422k
Median Debt
$53,187
Earnings (4yr)
$140,421
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$557k
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
$20,220
Earnings (4yr)
$126,170
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$434k
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
$30,220
Earnings (4yr)
$72,022
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
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
$36,586
Earnings (4yr)
$66,378
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
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
-$23k
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
-$130k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$51,250
Earnings (4yr)
$244,209
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$1432k
Median Debt
$26,557
Earnings (4yr)
$71,797
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (4yr)
$72,577
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,040
Earnings (4yr)
$59,392
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$40,720
Earnings (4yr)
$57,451
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,264
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Median Debt
$22,468
Earnings (4yr)
$56,382
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$180k
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
+$28k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,427
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
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
$59,500
Earnings (4yr)
$80,900
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,822
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (4yr)
$90,309
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$161,183
Earnings (4yr)
$116,665
Natl Median: $112,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k

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.