College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN 8,818 Undergrads 96.7% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$86,125
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$25,339
After Aid
Median Earnings
$106,934
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$25,339
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$106,934
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$113,124
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate96.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)19.5
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients15.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS90.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
11.3%
SAT Avg
1,520
SAT Reading
25th: 72075075th: 770
SAT Math
25th: 73577075th: 790
ACT Composite
25th: 333475th: 35

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
+$884k
+$414k
+$397k
Median Cost$25k/yr
+$793k
+$323k
+$306k
Full Cost$86k/yr
+$574k
+$104k
+$88k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
25
∞
Median Cost$25k/yr
29
336%
Full Cost$86k/yr
46
28%
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 Return142%

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-24%

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 →

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$115,909
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$390k
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Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (4yr)
$103,022
Natl Median: $98,207
Lifetime Value Added
+$292k
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Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$90,915
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
+$187k
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Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$82,983
Natl Median: $66,914
Lifetime Value Added
+$140k
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Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,832
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
+$85k
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Median Debt
$18,840
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,150
Earnings (4yr)
$102,801
Natl Median: $58,891
Lifetime Value Added
+$291k
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Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (5yr)
$68,371
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
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Median Debt
$21,375
Earnings (4yr)
$111,444
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$356k
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Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$113,614
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$373k
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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
$15,250
Earnings (4yr)
$85,781
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$161k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
-$375k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,632
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$142,970
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$594k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$163,644
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$725k
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Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (4yr)
$83,414
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
+$143k
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Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$64,880
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
+$160
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$45,715
Natl Median: $51,642
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
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Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$122,637
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$441k
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Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$112,828
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$367k
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Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,998
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,950
Natl Median: $81,171
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,152
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
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Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$160,313
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$724k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,982
Earnings (4yr)
$58,126
Natl Median: $61,911
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$16,497
Earnings (4yr)
$70,423
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
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International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$20,350
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
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Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,369
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$122,821
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$443k
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Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$124,557
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$456k
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Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$91,088
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$201k
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Median Debt
$17,565
Earnings (4yr)
$123,663
Natl Median: $88,839
Lifetime Value Added
+$449k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$92,118
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$209k
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Median Debt
$15,600
Earnings (4yr)
$99,859
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$268k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,941
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,358
Natl Median: $67,612
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
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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
$17,780
Earnings (4yr)
$65,458
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $63,114
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,083
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$110,029
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$346k
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Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$94,297
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$226k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$69,793
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
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Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$85,619
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,169
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (4yr)
$69,704
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
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Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,758
Natl Median: $44,535
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
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Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $122,434
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$74,500
Earnings (4yr)
$82,270
Natl Median: $74,139
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,271
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
-
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,499
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,757
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,073
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)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering Science
MastCIP: 1413
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$137,274
Natl Median: $123,681
Lifetime Value Added
+$518k
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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
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
MastCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,219
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,355
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$78,951
Natl Median: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
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Philosophy
MastCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,272
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 (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,737
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Religious Music and Worship
MastCIP: 3905
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,264
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,216
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,621
Natl Median: $61,300
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
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Doctoral Degrees

Anthropology
DocCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,473
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)
$101,099
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,848
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)
$116,010
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
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Civil Engineering
DocCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $167,302
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
DocCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $135,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $157,305
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
Mathematics
DocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$87,754
Natl Median: $131,070
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,341
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
DocCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,449
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: $90,908
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,410
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,860
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
DocCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,941
Natl Median: $71,982
Lifetime Value Added
-$337k
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Professional Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$122,025
Natl Median: $121,885
Lifetime Value Added
+$166k
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Median Debt
$52,871
Earnings (4yr)
$166,604
Natl Median: $214,836
Lifetime Value Added
+$493k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$92,953
Natl Median: $95,485
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$152,667
Natl Median: $152,881
Lifetime Value Added
+$391k
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Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$121,186
Earnings (4yr)
$142,699
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$318k
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Median Debt
$36,500
Earnings (4yr)
$182,186
Natl Median: $180,735
Lifetime Value Added
+$607k
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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.