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University of San Diego
San Diego, CA 5,619 Undergrads 81.1% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$74,879
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$31,265
After Aid
Median Earnings
$86,522
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$31,265
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$86,522
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate81.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients19.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS82.7%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
46.8%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -
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
+$714k
+$318k
+$230k
Median Cost$31k/yr
+$602k
+$205k
+$118k
Full Cost$75k/yr
+$445k
+$49k
-$39k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
27
∞
Median Cost$31k/yr
37
104%
Full Cost$75k/yr
Never
-15%
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 Return63%
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-46%
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
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$24,969
Earnings (5yr)
$109,018
Lifetime Value Added
+$298k
Architectural History and Criticism
BachCIP: 0408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$84,844
Lifetime Value Added
+$118k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$23,118
Earnings (5yr)
$68,950
Lifetime Value Added
-$1k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$19,899
Earnings (5yr)
$84,779
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k
Business/Managerial Economics
BachCIP: 5206
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$69,338
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$64,852
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,256
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$29,276
Earnings (5yr)
$118,396
Lifetime Value Added
+$368k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$56,908
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$23,094
Earnings (5yr)
$107,544
Lifetime Value Added
+$287k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
$19,348
Earnings (5yr)
$95,368
Lifetime Value Added
+$196k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$24,100
Earnings (5yr)
$68,437
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$20,569
Earnings (5yr)
$80,998
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$26,187
Earnings (5yr)
$97,127
Lifetime Value Added
+$210k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$58,500
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
BachCIP: 2615
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$84,851
Lifetime Value Added
+$118k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$25,344
Earnings (5yr)
$71,534
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$68,458
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Real Estate
BachCIP: 5215
Median Debt
$19,699
Earnings (2yr)
$63,005
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$69,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,681
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Master's Degrees
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$48,756
Earnings (5yr)
$128,241
Lifetime Value Added
+$623k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$44,186
Earnings (5yr)
$72,457
Lifetime Value Added
+$145k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$33,705
Earnings (5yr)
$87,081
Lifetime Value Added
+$271k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$53,519
Earnings (5yr)
$65,612
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
International Relations and National Security Studies
MastCIP: 4509
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,775
Lifetime Value Added
+$9k
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies
MastCIP: 2202
Median Debt
$135,168
Earnings (5yr)
$130,361
Lifetime Value Added
+$641k
Medical Illustration and Informatics
MastCIP: 5127
Median Debt
$48,680
Earnings (2yr)
$94,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$384k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$107,772
Earnings (5yr)
$71,961
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
MastCIP: 3005
Median Debt
$56,673
Earnings (2yr)
$45,696
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Real Estate
MastCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$89,530
Lifetime Value Added
+$339k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$119,008
Earnings (5yr)
$119,023
Lifetime Value Added
+$545k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$74,222
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$45,715
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Graduate Certificates
Legal Support Services
Gr-CertCIP: 2203
Median Debt
$18,540
Earnings (5yr)
$64,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
Doctoral Degrees
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$69,338
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$105,176
Earnings (5yr)
$144,258
Lifetime Value Added
+$504k
Professional Degrees
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$145,850
Earnings (5yr)
$130,132
Lifetime Value Added
+$402k
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.