College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of St Thomas

Saint Paul, MN 6,245 Undergrads 77.5% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$69,662
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$31,532
After Aid
Median Earnings
$82,794
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$31,532
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$82,794
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$82,322
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate77.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)20.4
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients24.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS87.4%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
85.4%
SAT Avg
1,296
SAT Reading
25th: 64068075th: 713
SAT Math
25th: 62066575th: 710
ACT Composite
25th: 252775th: 30

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)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$703k
+$233k
+$217k
Median Cost$32k/yr
+$590k
+$120k
+$103k
Full Cost$70k/yr
+$453k
-$17k
-$34k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
28
∞
Median Cost$32k/yr
38
91%
Full Cost$70k/yr
Never
-13%
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 Return64%

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-46%

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 →

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
$7,800
Earnings (4yr)
$45,072
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
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Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$91,587
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$183k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$270k
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Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$71,619
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
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Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$82,396
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$113k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,750
Earnings (4yr)
$64,917
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,876
Natl Median: $55,384
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$23,755
Earnings (4yr)
$107,938
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$308k
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Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$26,250
Earnings (4yr)
$70,419
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
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Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$89,881
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k
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Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$93,981
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$201k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,376
Earnings (4yr)
$79,390
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
+$90k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$93,720
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$199k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Biology
BachCIP: 3027
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,732
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,653
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$282k
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Median Debt
$21,422
Earnings (4yr)
$78,381
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$231k
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Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$108,187
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$309k
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Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$77,870
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$49,058
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
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Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$91,683
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$184k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,724
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
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Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$69,525
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
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Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$66,868
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,114
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$21,795
Earnings (4yr)
$41,209
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$219k
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Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,125
Earnings (4yr)
$61,922
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,875
Earnings (4yr)
$59,398
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
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Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,389
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
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Real Estate
BachCIP: 5215
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (2yr)
$49,019
Natl Median: $84,821
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
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Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$35,960
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
-$265k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,960
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$316k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,909
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$217k
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Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$19,819
Earnings (5yr)
$58,437
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,712
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,369
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$221k
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Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$62,012
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
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Median Debt
$61,143
Earnings (4yr)
$149,456
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$612k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$64,493
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
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Median Debt
$53,500
Earnings (4yr)
$68,816
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
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Median Debt
$48,193
Earnings (4yr)
$118,888
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$348k
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Median Debt
$51,512
Earnings (4yr)
$119,571
Natl Median: $120,083
Lifetime Value Added
+$354k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$102,480
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
+$187k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$70,456
Natl Median: $65,348
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,754
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$259k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other
MastCIP: 1599
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,422
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
MastCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,219
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $122,873
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$107,807
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$251k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,024
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$99,051
Natl Median: $80,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
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Real Estate
MastCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $135,104
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,737
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Religious Education
MastCIP: 3904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,328
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$38,671
Earnings (4yr)
$65,240
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
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Median Debt
$26,347
Earnings (4yr)
$66,391
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
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Systems Engineering
MastCIP: 1427
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $144,565
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,300
Earnings (4yr)
$66,763
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,671
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,300
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
$39,828
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,196
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,086
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,517
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, Other
Gr-CertCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,921
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $122,843
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
Gr-CertCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,837
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$123,235
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
+$153k
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Education, Other
DocCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,635
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
DocCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$84,830
Natl Median: $98,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
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Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$85,416
Earnings (4yr)
$89,706
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
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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.