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University of Southern Maine
Portland, ME 4,222 Undergrads 53.4% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$25,685
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$14,927
After Aid
Median Earnings
$60,393
5yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$14,927
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$60,393Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$57,989Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate53.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)23.6
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients39.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time80.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS75.7%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
79.2%
SAT Avg
1,116
SAT Reading
25th: 50056075th: 650
SAT Math
25th: 49054075th: 600
ACT Composite
25th: 242575th: 28
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
+$532k
+$62k
+$46k
Median Cost$15k/yr
+$478k
+$8k
-$8k
Full Cost$26k/yr
+$440k
-$30k
-$47k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
39
∞
Median Cost$15k/yr
Never
-15%
Full Cost$26k/yr
Never
-51%
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 Return5%
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-51%
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 →
Certificates
Accounting and Related Services
CertCIP: 5203
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
Geography and Cartography
CertCIP: 4507
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
Hospitality Administration/Management
CertCIP: 5209
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
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
CertCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,945
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
Median Debt
$16,625
Earnings (4yr)
$57,790
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (4yr)
$58,164
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$65,230
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,033
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$110,861
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$373k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,352
Natl Median: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
+$149k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$19,982
Earnings (4yr)
$59,270
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$33,005
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$231k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,843
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$110,587
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$371k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$22,207
Earnings (4yr)
$43,823
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
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
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$73,068
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,514
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$42,778
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,748
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$77,734
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,909
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Median Debt
$16,329
Earnings (4yr)
$55,435
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$18,314
Earnings (4yr)
$57,968
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$22,375
Earnings (4yr)
$88,515
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$219k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$24,820
Earnings (2yr)
$18,309
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$354k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,665
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
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
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$22,219
Earnings (4yr)
$65,836
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$45,529
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$75,465
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
BachCIP: 5123
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Security Science and Technology
BachCIP: 4304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,805
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 4599
Median Debt
$19,768
Earnings (4yr)
$45,523
Natl Median: $56,812
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$12,757
Earnings (4yr)
$52,903
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,086
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$910
Median Debt
$13,350
Earnings (5yr)
$42,611
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education
PB-CertCIP: 1302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,313
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
PB-CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $104,114
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
PB-CertCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,661
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Educational Administration and Supervision
PB-CertCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,516
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Geography and Cartography
PB-CertCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,228
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
PB-CertCIP: 5199
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,006
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
PB-CertCIP: 5115
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,346
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Special Education and Teaching
PB-CertCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,623
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
PB-CertCIP: 1311
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
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language
PB-CertCIP: 1314
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,752
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Master's Degrees
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$94,721
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$168k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$35,655
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$20,500
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
+$112k
Public Policy Analysis
MastCIP: 4405
Median Debt
$23,450
Earnings (4yr)
$66,469
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Median Debt
$29,850
Earnings (4yr)
$118,908
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$379k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$44,007
Earnings (4yr)
$67,576
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
MastCIP: 2313
Median Debt
$57,135
Earnings (4yr)
$52,322
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$213k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$35,138
Earnings (4yr)
$62,912
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,059
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$38,775
Earnings (4yr)
$56,490
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$53,547
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$202k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,792
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Graduate Certificates
Educational Administration and Supervision
Gr-CertCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
Gr-CertCIP: 1311
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
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
DocCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Policy Analysis
DocCIP: 4405
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
$62,244
Earnings (4yr)
$83,912
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
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.