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University of San Diego
San Diego, CA 5,671 Undergrads 81.9% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$83,503
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$29,539
After Aid
Median Earnings
$83,580
5yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$29,539
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$83,580Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$93,069Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate81.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)20.8
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients25.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS84.4%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
52.4%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -
ROI Sensitivity AnalysisAssuming 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
+$709k
+$239k
+$223k
Median Cost$30k/yr
+$603k
+$133k
+$117k
Full Cost$84k/yr
+$409k
-$61k
-$78k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
27
∞
Median Cost$30k/yr
37
110%
Full Cost$84k/yr
Never
-26%
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 Return41%
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-54%
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
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$109,142
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$324k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Architectural History, Criticism, and Conservation
BachCIP: 0408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Natl Median: $65,003
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$83,380
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$127k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,403
Earnings (4yr)
$59,950
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$79,678
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$21,354
Earnings (4yr)
$68,913
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$149,847
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$630k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (5yr)
$82,600
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$109k
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (4yr)
$110,314
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$333k
Engineering, General
BachCIP: 1401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$24,625
Earnings (4yr)
$68,752
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$20,898
Earnings (4yr)
$93,099
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$202k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Industrial Engineering
BachCIP: 1435
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
$25,526
Earnings (4yr)
$85,285
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$61,509
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,474
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (4yr)
$83,562
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$91,848
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$192k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$14,250
Earnings (4yr)
$58,517
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
BachCIP: 2615
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (4yr)
$72,910
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
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
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$20,717
Earnings (4yr)
$62,301
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,593
Earnings (4yr)
$74,178
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
Real Estate
BachCIP: 5215
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$78,044
Natl Median: $84,821
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k
Religion/Religious Studies
BachCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$224k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,338
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
Legal Support Services
PB-CertCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,873
Natl Median: $55,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$46,407
Earnings (4yr)
$163,311
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$735k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$78,398
Earnings (4yr)
$72,038
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Median Debt
$48,596
Earnings (4yr)
$141,878
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
+$550k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$19,494
Earnings (4yr)
$148,025
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
+$603k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$50,805
Earnings (4yr)
$68,584
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
MastCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$33,550
Earnings (4yr)
$91,474
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$33,925
Earnings (4yr)
$77,579
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Human Services, General
MastCIP: 4400
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,050
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,775
Natl Median: $95,627
Lifetime Value Added
-$206k
Legal Professions and Studies, Other
MastCIP: 2299
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,855
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies
MastCIP: 2202
Median Debt
$71,840
Earnings (4yr)
$148,235
Natl Median: $101,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$605k
Medical Illustration and Informatics
MastCIP: 5127
Median Debt
$55,546
Earnings (4yr)
$104,240
Natl Median: $101,441
Lifetime Value Added
+$224k
Median Debt
$112,776
Earnings (4yr)
$80,953
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
MastCIP: 3005
Median Debt
$48,554
Earnings (4yr)
$55,177
Natl Median: $70,267
Lifetime Value Added
-$213k
Real Estate
MastCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$155,948
Natl Median: $135,104
Lifetime Value Added
+$671k
Median Debt
$130,185
Earnings (4yr)
$124,822
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$403k
Security Science and Technology
MastCIP: 4304
Median Debt
$30,904
Earnings (4yr)
$137,533
Natl Median: $82,399
Lifetime Value Added
+$513k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,030
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,844
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $114,810
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,167
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,964
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Graduate Certificates
Legal Support Services
Gr-CertCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,783
Natl Median: $69,929
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Doctoral Degrees
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$135,310
Earnings (5yr)
$101,835
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$178,950
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$568k
Professional Degrees
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$140,720
Earnings (4yr)
$134,065
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$240k
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies
ProfCIP: 2202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,836
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$126,285
Earnings (4yr)
$145,372
Natl Median: $133,099
Lifetime Value Added
+$323k
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.