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University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, PA 20,189 Undergrads 82.1% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$36,707
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$30,074
After Aid
Median Earnings
$66,125
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$30,074
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$66,125
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate82.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients16.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time96.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS81.8%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
49.7%
SAT Avg
1,371
SAT Reading
25th: 64067575th: 720
SAT Math
25th: 63068575th: 730
ACT Composite
25th: 293175th: 33
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
+$564k
+$168k
+$80k
Median Cost$30k/yr
+$456k
+$59k
-$29k
Full Cost$37k/yr
+$432k
+$35k
-$52k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
34
∞
Median Cost$30k/yr
Never
-26%
Full Cost$37k/yr
Never
-40%
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 Return21%
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-52%
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
Certificates
Business/Commerce, General
CertCIP: 5201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$75,275
Lifetime Value Added
+$305k
Communication and Media Studies
CertCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$24,188
Earnings (5yr)
$61,884
Lifetime Value Added
+$175k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,665
Lifetime Value Added
+$133k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
CertCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,953
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Geography and Cartography
CertCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$57,021
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
CertCIP: 5199
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$61,362
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k
Human Resources Management and Services
CertCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (5yr)
$101,383
Lifetime Value Added
+$554k
International Business
CertCIP: 5211
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$94,118
Lifetime Value Added
+$484k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
CertCIP: 1601
Median Debt
$25,308
Earnings (5yr)
$61,926
Lifetime Value Added
+$176k
Literature
CertCIP: 2314
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,844
Lifetime Value Added
+$73k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
CertCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$67,854
Lifetime Value Added
+$234k
Nuclear Engineering
CertCIP: 1423
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$94,224
Lifetime Value Added
+$485k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
CertCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,719
Lifetime Value Added
+$252k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
CertCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$70,612
Lifetime Value Added
+$260k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
CertCIP: 2313
Median Debt
$26,697
Earnings (5yr)
$73,249
Lifetime Value Added
+$286k
Associate's Degrees
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$15,625
Earnings (5yr)
$36,117
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$58,823
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Mining and Petroleum Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1509
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,850
Lifetime Value Added
+$167k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$20,012
Earnings (5yr)
$76,839
Lifetime Value Added
+$229k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$24,188
Earnings (5yr)
$85,705
Lifetime Value Added
+$128k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,163
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$24,667
Earnings (5yr)
$50,315
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$90,036
Lifetime Value Added
+$161k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$26,558
Earnings (5yr)
$62,038
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
Biological and Physical Sciences
BachCIP: 3001
Median Debt
$23,815
Earnings (5yr)
$64,219
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$61,794
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
BachCIP: 1405
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$103,167
Lifetime Value Added
+$259k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$102,112
Lifetime Value Added
+$251k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$23,059
Earnings (5yr)
$60,262
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$24,750
Earnings (5yr)
$93,213
Lifetime Value Added
+$185k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$71,533
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$78,107
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$88,756
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
BachCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$21,208
Earnings (5yr)
$52,705
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$25,870
Earnings (5yr)
$57,752
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$25,294
Earnings (5yr)
$70,346
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$26,489
Earnings (5yr)
$103,404
Lifetime Value Added
+$261k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$25,750
Earnings (5yr)
$104,624
Lifetime Value Added
+$270k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,740
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,139
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
BachCIP: 5131
Median Debt
$26,800
Earnings (5yr)
$62,221
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$596
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$24,989
Earnings (5yr)
$73,651
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$69,221
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (5yr)
$96,649
Lifetime Value Added
+$210k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$22,906
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$344k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (5yr)
$91,242
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$22,727
Earnings (5yr)
$59,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,465
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$22,662
Earnings (5yr)
$82,177
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$26,353
Lifetime Value Added
-$334k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$49,444
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,205
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Industrial Engineering
BachCIP: 1435
Median Debt
$24,375
Earnings (5yr)
$102,365
Lifetime Value Added
+$253k
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$26,486
Earnings (5yr)
$88,912
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,887
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (5yr)
$48,759
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Literature
BachCIP: 2314
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,146
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$81,225
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$24,188
Earnings (5yr)
$78,395
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$26,879
Earnings (5yr)
$69,210
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1508
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$74,800
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$25,190
Earnings (5yr)
$93,999
Lifetime Value Added
+$190k
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
BachCIP: 2615
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$64,114
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
BachCIP: 5120
Median Debt
$25,394
Earnings (5yr)
$133,050
Lifetime Value Added
+$481k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$23,415
Earnings (5yr)
$61,478
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$25,103
Earnings (5yr)
$55,169
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$77,904
Lifetime Value Added
+$70k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
BachCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$24,375
Earnings (5yr)
$75,370
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
$24,046
Earnings (5yr)
$53,776
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,242
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
Social Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4501
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$43,161
Lifetime Value Added
-$204k
Social Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 4599
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,452
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,526
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$48,866
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$42,137
Lifetime Value Added
-$213k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$63,142
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Urban Studies/Affairs
BachCIP: 4512
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$303k
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences
PB-CertCIP: 5105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$299,086
Lifetime Value Added
+$2260k
Education, General
PB-CertCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,804
Lifetime Value Added
+$54k
Public Health
PB-CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,851
Lifetime Value Added
+$114k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
PB-CertCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,030
Lifetime Value Added
+$76k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$92,629
Lifetime Value Added
+$321k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
MastCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$113,974
Earnings (5yr)
$117,186
Lifetime Value Added
+$531k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
MastCIP: 1405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$95,894
Lifetime Value Added
+$349k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$97,789
Lifetime Value Added
+$365k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$58,255
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,425
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
MastCIP: 5131
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,604
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Information Science/Studies
MastCIP: 1104
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$119,579
Lifetime Value Added
+$552k
Mechanical Engineering
MastCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$107,342
Lifetime Value Added
+$447k
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies
MastCIP: 5114
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$206,891
Lifetime Value Added
+$1290k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$56,549
Earnings (5yr)
$75,108
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,721
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Doctoral Degrees
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
DocCIP: 1405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$83,546
Lifetime Value Added
+$105k
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$63,005
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$58,970
Earnings (5yr)
$104,730
Lifetime Value Added
+$222k
Psychology, General
DocCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,952
Lifetime Value Added
-$178k
Professional Degrees
Business Administration, Management and Operations
ProfCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$49,367
Earnings (5yr)
$134,342
Lifetime Value Added
+$437k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
ProfCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$78,223
Earnings (5yr)
$72,317
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Dentistry
ProfCIP: 5104
Median Debt
$235,835
Earnings (5yr)
$189,847
Lifetime Value Added
+$836k
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
ProfCIP: 2613
Median Debt
$34,500
Earnings (5yr)
$79,518
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Education, General
ProfCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$27,187
Earnings (5yr)
$58,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
Educational Administration and Supervision
ProfCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$33,011
Earnings (5yr)
$54,013
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
English Language and Literature, General
ProfCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$42,168
Lifetime Value Added
-$249k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
ProfCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$94,688
Lifetime Value Added
+$149k
International Relations and National Security Studies
ProfCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$82,160
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$109,178
Earnings (5yr)
$96,860
Lifetime Value Added
+$165k
Library Science and Administration
ProfCIP: 2501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,895
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$181,338
Earnings (5yr)
$155,606
Lifetime Value Added
+$590k
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
ProfCIP: 2605
Median Debt
$44,238
Earnings (5yr)
$72,922
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
ProfCIP: 5120
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$141,411
Lifetime Value Added
+$488k
Public Administration
ProfCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$38,950
Earnings (5yr)
$82,619
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Public Health
ProfCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$69,500
Earnings (5yr)
$71,759
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Public Policy Analysis
ProfCIP: 4405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$99,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$184k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
ProfCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$80,061
Earnings (5yr)
$153,203
Lifetime Value Added
+$572k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
ProfCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$104,803
Earnings (5yr)
$76,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Social Work
ProfCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$46,000
Earnings (5yr)
$56,021
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
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.