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University of Southern Maine
Portland, ME 4,245 Undergrads 46.9% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$21,381
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$11,729
After Aid
Median Earnings
$49,958
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$11,729
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$49,958
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate46.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients35.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time79.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.9%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
79.3%
SAT Avg
1,130
SAT Reading
25th: 50557075th: 640
SAT Math
25th: 49054375th: 640
ACT Composite
25th: 232275th: 26
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
+$437k
+$40k
-$47k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$395k
-$2k
-$90k
Full Cost$21k/yr
+$360k
-$36k
-$124k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
Never
-212%
Full Cost$21k/yr
Never
-162%
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 Return-183%
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-91%
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
$18,110
Earnings (5yr)
$65,802
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,753
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$17,577
Earnings (5yr)
$63,868
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$18,625
Earnings (5yr)
$59,240
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$17,678
Earnings (5yr)
$49,157
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$22,549
Earnings (5yr)
$63,574
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$103,023
Lifetime Value Added
+$324k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (5yr)
$42,854
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$16,000
Earnings (2yr)
$54,869
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$18,953
Earnings (5yr)
$42,777
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$22,750
Earnings (5yr)
$44,213
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1506
Median Debt
$19,488
Earnings (5yr)
$59,339
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$22,767
Earnings (5yr)
$44,622
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$18,916
Earnings (5yr)
$55,591
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$30,933
Earnings (5yr)
$90,682
Lifetime Value Added
+$232k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$18,309
Lifetime Value Added
-$342k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (2yr)
$37,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$15,594
Earnings (5yr)
$62,143
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$42,001
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$20,017
Earnings (5yr)
$71,235
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
Social Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 4599
Median Debt
$17,218
Earnings (5yr)
$42,725
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$16,693
Earnings (5yr)
$51,132
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,569
Lifetime Value Added
-$211k
Master's Degrees
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$30,648
Earnings (5yr)
$82,292
Lifetime Value Added
+$266k
Public Policy Analysis
MastCIP: 4405
Median Debt
$31,571
Earnings (5yr)
$63,802
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$58,206
Earnings (5yr)
$121,814
Lifetime Value Added
+$604k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$53,684
Earnings (5yr)
$63,551
Lifetime Value Added
+$103k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$31,850
Earnings (5yr)
$49,564
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$42,720
Earnings (5yr)
$55,021
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$51,750
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Professional Degrees
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$85,950
Earnings (5yr)
$80,203
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k
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.