College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, CA 5,697 Undergrads 75.7% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$76,421
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$39,495
After Aid
Median Earnings
$89,812
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$39,495
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$89,812
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate75.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients27.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time96.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS82.4%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
50.8%
SAT Avg
1,313
SAT Reading
25th: 61064575th: 690
SAT Math
25th: 60064575th: 700
ACT Composite
25th: 262975th: 31

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
+$739k
+$342k
+$254k
Median Cost$39k/yr
+$596k
+$200k
+$112k
Full Cost$76k/yr
+$464k
+$67k
-$21k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
27
Median Cost$39k/yr
39
79%
Full Cost$76k/yr
Never
-8%
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 Return77%

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-42%
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
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$101,040
Lifetime Value Added
+$209k
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$76,078
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,369
Lifetime Value Added
-$250k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$23,125
Earnings (5yr)
$71,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$104,526
Lifetime Value Added
+$235k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$21,875
Earnings (5yr)
$66,922
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (5yr)
$149,331
Lifetime Value Added
+$567k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$65,023
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$87,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$24,995
Earnings (5yr)
$73,223
Lifetime Value Added
+$994
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
BachCIP: 5207
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$75,474
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$24,394
Earnings (5yr)
$107,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$255k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$24,062
Earnings (5yr)
$36,545
Lifetime Value Added
-$294k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$70,495
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$63,345
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$74,026
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$92,956
Lifetime Value Added
+$149k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$24,603
Earnings (5yr)
$53,544
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (5yr)
$91,873
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$67,402
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Lifetime Value Added
-$230k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$69,079
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$63,533
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$89,358
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$25,286
Earnings (5yr)
$149,741
Lifetime Value Added
+$570k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$24,125
Earnings (5yr)
$60,747
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Visual and Performing Arts, General
BachCIP: 5001
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (2yr)
$27,823
Lifetime Value Added
-$354k

Master's Degrees

Biotechnology
MastCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$79,450
Lifetime Value Added
+$232k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$48,713
Earnings (5yr)
$150,673
Lifetime Value Added
+$798k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$79,057
Earnings (5yr)
$78,351
Lifetime Value Added
+$181k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$140,922
Lifetime Value Added
+$789k
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$115,251
Lifetime Value Added
+$497k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$35,159
Earnings (5yr)
$75,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$156k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$40,950
Earnings (5yr)
$70,038
Lifetime Value Added
+$109k
Finance and Financial Management Services
MastCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$108,756
Lifetime Value Added
+$442k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$51,250
Earnings (5yr)
$74,086
Lifetime Value Added
+$144k
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$157,232
Lifetime Value Added
+$854k
International/Global Studies
MastCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$38,070
Earnings (5yr)
$86,010
Lifetime Value Added
+$247k
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies
MastCIP: 2202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$133,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$655k
Museology/Museum Studies
MastCIP: 3014
Median Debt
$43,875
Earnings (2yr)
$39,927
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
MastCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$91,453
Lifetime Value Added
+$293k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$48,010
Earnings (5yr)
$116,575
Lifetime Value Added
+$509k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$60,995
Earnings (2yr)
$50,856
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
MastCIP: 0909
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$96,735
Earnings (5yr)
$158,515
Lifetime Value Added
+$864k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$61,020
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$34,375
Earnings (5yr)
$73,331
Lifetime Value Added
+$138k
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language
MastCIP: 1314
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$38,908
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k

Doctoral Degrees

Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education
DocCIP: 1302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$84,653
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Law
DocCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$182,582
Earnings (5yr)
$114,397
Lifetime Value Added
+$259k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$95,800
Earnings (5yr)
$200,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$878k

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.