College ROI

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University of Southern Maine

Portland, ME 4,222 Undergrads 49.5% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$23,717
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,596
After Aid
Median Earnings
$60,816
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$13,596
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$60,816
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$49,958
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate49.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age23.6
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients35.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time80.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
79.2%
SAT Avg
1,116
SAT Reading
25th: 50057075th: 650
SAT Math
25th: 49054375th: 600
ACT Composite
25th: 242275th: 28

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$542k
+$75k
+$58k
Median Cost$14k/yr
+$493k
+$26k
+$9k
Full Cost$24k/yr
+$457k
-$10k
-$27k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
37
∞
Median Cost$14k/yr
56
18%
Full Cost$24k/yr
Never
-32%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-38%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Gerontology
CertCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,636
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,962
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Insurance
CertCIP: 5217
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,539
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$18,110
Earnings (4yr)
$71,945
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,790
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$17,577
Earnings (4yr)
$58,164
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Median Debt
$18,625
Earnings (4yr)
$65,230
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,678
Earnings (4yr)
$53,033
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,352
Natl Median: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$22,549
Earnings (4yr)
$59,270
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$33,005
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$225k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$103,023
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$317k
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$43,823
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$16,000
Earnings (4yr)
$73,068
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
Median Debt
$18,953
Earnings (4yr)
$43,514
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$22,750
Earnings (4yr)
$42,778
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Median Debt
$18,455
Earnings (4yr)
$47,748
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Median Debt
$19,488
Earnings (4yr)
$77,734
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$140k
Median Debt
$22,767
Earnings (4yr)
$48,909
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Median Debt
$23,018
Earnings (4yr)
$55,435
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$18,916
Earnings (4yr)
$57,968
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,933
Earnings (4yr)
$88,515
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$222k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$18,309
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$349k
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,665
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physical Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,944
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,594
Earnings (4yr)
$65,836
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,529
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Median Debt
$20,017
Earnings (4yr)
$75,465
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,805
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,218
Earnings (4yr)
$45,523
Natl Median: $56,812
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$16,693
Earnings (4yr)
$52,903
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$24,421
Earnings (4yr)
$60,086
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,569
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$218k

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,313
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $104,114
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,661
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,516
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,228
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,006
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,335
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $146,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
PB-CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,697
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Policy Analysis
PB-CertCIP: 4405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,838
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,346
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,623
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
PB-CertCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,923
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,085
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,414
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,439
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,752
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$30,648
Earnings (4yr)
$94,721
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$169k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$88,404
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$114k
Median Debt
$31,571
Earnings (4yr)
$66,469
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Median Debt
$58,206
Earnings (4yr)
$118,908
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$380k
Median Debt
$53,684
Earnings (4yr)
$67,576
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,322
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$210k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$31,850
Earnings (4yr)
$62,912
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,059
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$42,720
Earnings (4yr)
$56,490
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$53,547
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$198k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,774
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,709
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $119,220
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$85,950
Earnings (4yr)
$83,912
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k

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.