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University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA 20,817 Undergrads 93.0% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$84,678
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$31,927
After Aid
Median Earnings
$92,498
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$31,927
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$92,498
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate93.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients21.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time97.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS81.7%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
10.0%
SAT Avg
1,501
SAT Reading
25th: 70072075th: 760
SAT Math
25th: 74075575th: 790
ACT Composite
25th: 323475th: 35
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
+$758k
+$362k
+$274k
Median Cost$32k/yr
+$643k
+$247k
+$159k
Full Cost$85k/yr
+$454k
+$57k
-$31k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
27
∞
Median Cost$32k/yr
35
138%
Full Cost$85k/yr
Never
-10%
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 Return72%
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-44%
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
$16,491
Earnings (5yr)
$107,531
Lifetime Value Added
+$285k
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
BachCIP: 1402
Median Debt
$20,030
Earnings (5yr)
$113,915
Lifetime Value Added
+$333k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
$12,251
Earnings (5yr)
$94,658
Lifetime Value Added
+$189k
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$76,673
Lifetime Value Added
+$54k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$66,870
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management
BachCIP: 5010
Median Debt
$20,353
Earnings (5yr)
$42,388
Lifetime Value Added
-$217k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$3,000
Earnings (5yr)
$88,746
Lifetime Value Added
+$144k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$4,618
Earnings (5yr)
$77,275
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
BachCIP: 1405
Median Debt
$13,750
Earnings (5yr)
$112,503
Lifetime Value Added
+$322k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$15,750
Earnings (5yr)
$104,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$265k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$106,401
Lifetime Value Added
+$277k
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning
BachCIP: 0403
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$91,200
Lifetime Value Added
+$163k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$8,125
Earnings (5yr)
$116,779
Lifetime Value Added
+$354k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$15,875
Earnings (5yr)
$77,431
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$6,625
Earnings (5yr)
$161,292
Lifetime Value Added
+$682k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$19,625
Earnings (5yr)
$180,906
Lifetime Value Added
+$827k
Computer Software and Media Applications
BachCIP: 1108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$165,219
Lifetime Value Added
+$711k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$30,556
Earnings (5yr)
$81,034
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$79,947
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$30,649
Lifetime Value Added
-$317k
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,478
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$13,850
Earnings (5yr)
$98,555
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$18,497
Earnings (5yr)
$123,215
Lifetime Value Added
+$402k
Engineering, General
BachCIP: 1401
Median Debt
$2,750
Earnings (5yr)
$102,373
Lifetime Value Added
+$246k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$3,500
Earnings (5yr)
$57,930
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (5yr)
$54,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$53,923
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (5yr)
$61,391
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$12,138
Earnings (5yr)
$70,904
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Human Biology
BachCIP: 3027
Median Debt
$14,481
Earnings (5yr)
$80,692
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Industrial Engineering
BachCIP: 1435
Median Debt
$17,704
Earnings (5yr)
$137,590
Lifetime Value Added
+$508k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$13,247
Earnings (5yr)
$87,675
Lifetime Value Added
+$136k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$73,113
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$3,000
Earnings (5yr)
$64,040
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$14,250
Earnings (5yr)
$107,591
Lifetime Value Added
+$285k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (5yr)
$59,948
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$19,839
Earnings (5yr)
$24,763
Lifetime Value Added
-$368k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$9,125
Earnings (5yr)
$80,254
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
BachCIP: 2615
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (5yr)
$78,242
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$7,500
Earnings (5yr)
$95,023
Lifetime Value Added
+$191k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$78,005
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (5yr)
$67,060
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$81,522
Lifetime Value Added
+$90k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$70,555
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Real Estate
BachCIP: 5215
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$145,650
Lifetime Value Added
+$567k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
$19,131
Earnings (5yr)
$66,177
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$66,550
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Social Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,488
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$9,625
Earnings (5yr)
$67,128
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Visual and Performing Arts, General
BachCIP: 5001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,678
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$48,666
Earnings (5yr)
$117,723
Lifetime Value Added
+$532k
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
MastCIP: 1402
Median Debt
$55,288
Earnings (5yr)
$142,250
Lifetime Value Added
+$741k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
MastCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$232,660
Earnings (5yr)
$146,714
Lifetime Value Added
+$778k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$81,110
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
MastCIP: 1405
Median Debt
$65,600
Earnings (5yr)
$119,617
Lifetime Value Added
+$549k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$77,686
Earnings (5yr)
$192,109
Lifetime Value Added
+$1163k
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
MastCIP: 2604
Median Debt
$61,426
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Chemical Engineering
MastCIP: 1407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$96,183
Lifetime Value Added
+$398k
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning
MastCIP: 0403
Median Debt
$57,982
Earnings (5yr)
$95,803
Lifetime Value Added
+$345k
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$110,412
Lifetime Value Added
+$470k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$61,632
Earnings (5yr)
$112,242
Lifetime Value Added
+$486k
Communication and Media Studies
MastCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$70,426
Earnings (5yr)
$96,903
Lifetime Value Added
+$354k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$51,250
Earnings (5yr)
$207,395
Lifetime Value Added
+$1291k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
MastCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$108,033
Earnings (5yr)
$55,652
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$60,487
Earnings (5yr)
$76,818
Lifetime Value Added
+$182k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
MastCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$144,597
Lifetime Value Added
+$760k
Engineering, Other
MastCIP: 1499
Median Debt
$30,125
Earnings (5yr)
$143,002
Lifetime Value Added
+$747k
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
MastCIP: 5207
Median Debt
$58,425
Earnings (5yr)
$86,835
Lifetime Value Added
+$268k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
MastCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$167,503
Earnings (5yr)
$61,697
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Finance and Financial Management Services
MastCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$135,370
Lifetime Value Added
+$682k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,508
Lifetime Value Added
-$324k
Geography and Cartography
MastCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$58,405
Earnings (5yr)
$83,499
Lifetime Value Added
+$239k
Gerontology
MastCIP: 3011
Median Debt
$66,250
Earnings (5yr)
$74,764
Lifetime Value Added
+$164k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$73,316
Earnings (5yr)
$136,971
Lifetime Value Added
+$696k
International Business
MastCIP: 5211
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$82,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$273k
International/Global Studies
MastCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$52,251
Earnings (5yr)
$58,010
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
Journalism
MastCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$48,232
Earnings (5yr)
$75,829
Lifetime Value Added
+$173k
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies
MastCIP: 2202
Median Debt
$66,790
Earnings (5yr)
$80,312
Lifetime Value Added
+$212k
Library Science and Administration
MastCIP: 2501
Median Debt
$83,905
Earnings (5yr)
$80,099
Lifetime Value Added
+$210k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
MastCIP: 5213
Median Debt
$60,405
Earnings (5yr)
$148,578
Lifetime Value Added
+$794k
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$176,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$1032k
Mechanical Engineering
MastCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$128,483
Lifetime Value Added
+$624k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$130,999
Earnings (5yr)
$71,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$135k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$64,278
Earnings (5yr)
$32,062
Lifetime Value Added
-$232k
Petroleum Engineering
MastCIP: 1425
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$120,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$554k
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
MastCIP: 5120
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$147,157
Lifetime Value Added
+$782k
Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other
MastCIP: 4499
Median Debt
$51,250
Earnings (5yr)
$144,949
Lifetime Value Added
+$763k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$75,887
Earnings (5yr)
$101,159
Lifetime Value Added
+$391k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$83,937
Earnings (5yr)
$83,253
Lifetime Value Added
+$237k
Public Policy Analysis
MastCIP: 4405
Median Debt
$81,516
Earnings (5yr)
$99,619
Lifetime Value Added
+$377k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
MastCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$82,426
Earnings (5yr)
$76,312
Lifetime Value Added
+$177k
Real Estate Development
MastCIP: 0410
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$192,849
Lifetime Value Added
+$1169k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$96,260
Earnings (5yr)
$225,065
Lifetime Value Added
+$1434k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$136,289
Earnings (5yr)
$86,384
Lifetime Value Added
+$264k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
MastCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$73,165
Lifetime Value Added
+$150k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$125,849
Earnings (5yr)
$72,091
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$118,051
Earnings (5yr)
$82,260
Lifetime Value Added
+$228k
Systems Engineering
MastCIP: 1427
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$163,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$917k
Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
$50,834
Earnings (5yr)
$125,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$595k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$68,331
Earnings (5yr)
$65,143
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language
MastCIP: 1314
Median Debt
$66,499
Earnings (5yr)
$58,536
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Visual and Performing Arts, General
MastCIP: 5001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$67,101
Lifetime Value Added
+$133k
Graduate Certificates
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences
Gr-CertCIP: 5105
Median Debt
$252,481
Earnings (5yr)
$199,940
Lifetime Value Added
+$1409k
Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management
Gr-CertCIP: 5010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$145,157
Lifetime Value Added
+$907k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Gr-CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$79,250
Earnings (5yr)
$143,040
Lifetime Value Added
+$888k
Finance and Financial Management Services
Gr-CertCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$122,038
Lifetime Value Added
+$763k
Geography and Cartography
Gr-CertCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$90,774
Lifetime Value Added
+$404k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
Gr-CertCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$108,346
Earnings (5yr)
$125,128
Lifetime Value Added
+$723k
Legal Professions and Studies, Other
Gr-CertCIP: 2299
Median Debt
$75,568
Earnings (5yr)
$178,778
Lifetime Value Added
+$1216k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
Gr-CertCIP: 5213
Median Debt
$100,338
Earnings (2yr)
$76,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$314k
Marketing
Gr-CertCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$95,362
Earnings (5yr)
$158,415
Lifetime Value Added
+$1029k
Music
Gr-CertCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,508
Lifetime Value Added
-$274k
Public Policy Analysis
Gr-CertCIP: 4405
Median Debt
$85,385
Earnings (5yr)
$95,677
Lifetime Value Added
+$450k
Special Education and Teaching
Gr-CertCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$98,855
Earnings (5yr)
$66,583
Lifetime Value Added
+$178k
Doctoral Degrees
Communication and Media Studies
DocCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$90,695
Lifetime Value Added
+$113k
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$99,714
Earnings (5yr)
$127,355
Lifetime Value Added
+$380k
English Language and Literature, General
DocCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$55,964
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,593
Lifetime Value Added
-$274k
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
DocCIP: 5120
Median Debt
$283,763
Earnings (5yr)
$194,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$859k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$210,709
Earnings (5yr)
$89,483
Lifetime Value Added
+$105k
Professional Degrees
Dentistry
ProfCIP: 5104
Median Debt
$439,325
Earnings (5yr)
$122,473
Lifetime Value Added
+$344k
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$138,518
Earnings (5yr)
$199,180
Lifetime Value Added
+$896k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$234,702
Earnings (5yr)
$139,886
Lifetime Value Added
+$470k
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
ProfCIP: 5120
Median Debt
$234,278
Earnings (5yr)
$170,231
Lifetime Value Added
+$688k
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.