College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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University of Vermont

Burlington, VT 11,743 Undergrads 77.1% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$36,569
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$20,277
After Aid
Median Earnings
$65,054
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$20,277
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$65,054
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$68,368
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate77.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)20.1
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients15.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time97.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS78.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
65.3%
SAT Avg
1,374
SAT Reading
25th: 66069075th: 730
SAT Math
25th: 63067075th: 710
ACT Composite
25th: 303175th: 32

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
+$569k
+$99k
+$83k
Median Cost$20k/yr
+$496k
+$26k
+$10k
Full Cost$37k/yr
+$437k
-$33k
-$49k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
34
∞
Median Cost$20k/yr
57
13%
Full Cost$37k/yr
Never
-37%
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 Return23%

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-52%

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 →

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,482
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
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Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$48,468
Natl Median: $49,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
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Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$19,644
Earnings (4yr)
$49,987
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
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Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$80,593
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$140k
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Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,813
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
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Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,245
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$82,284
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
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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
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$77,342
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,668
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
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Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,174
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$21,275
Earnings (4yr)
$81,160
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$144k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,929
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,569
Earnings (4yr)
$54,726
Natl Median: $55,753
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,642
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$69,416
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$54k
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Median Debt
$15,750
Earnings (4yr)
$95,036
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$250k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,057
Earnings (4yr)
$49,101
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,395
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
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Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (4yr)
$77,348
Natl Median: $81,171
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
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Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
BachCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,185
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$32,100
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$258k
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Median Debt
$22,815
Earnings (4yr)
$53,191
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
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Forestry
BachCIP: 0305
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$40,871
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$182k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,428
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$15,750
Earnings (4yr)
$54,694
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
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Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,698
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,219
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,124
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$180k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$65,139
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
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Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$83,438
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$161k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,120
Natl Median: $62,582
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$46,986
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
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Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$53,755
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
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Nutrition Sciences
BachCIP: 3019
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$61,238
Natl Median: $60,053
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
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Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$34,672
Natl Median: $56,567
Lifetime Value Added
-$236k
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Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$63,279
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,805
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
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Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$65,706
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
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Median Debt
$24,914
Earnings (4yr)
$82,571
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$155k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,169
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,235
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$17,197
Earnings (4yr)
$54,529
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,127
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
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Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$48,111
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
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Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$44,006
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
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Median Debt
$24,125
Earnings (4yr)
$38,421
Natl Median: $44,055
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k
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Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$92,986
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$143k
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Animal Sciences
MastCIP: 0109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,394
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,090
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$57,288
Earnings (4yr)
$76,901
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
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Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,499
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$82,223
Earnings (4yr)
$68,325
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
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Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,106
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,269
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,385
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,357
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,496
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Materials Sciences
MastCIP: 4010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,810
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,927
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $198,417
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Nutrition Sciences
MastCIP: 3019
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,126
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,681
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
MastCIP: 0111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,814
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$254k
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Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$34,009
Earnings (4yr)
$69,137
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$120,325
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$361k
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Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$50,750
Earnings (4yr)
$64,211
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,090
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
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Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$50,230
Earnings (4yr)
$55,038
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $111,527
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Public Health
Gr-CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,684
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Animal Sciences
DocCIP: 0109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,778
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,096
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,507
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
DocCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$81,029
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,070
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $87,076
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Nutrition Sciences
DocCIP: 3019
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,750
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
DocCIP: 0111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,502
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$109,295
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
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Median Debt
$127,900
Earnings (4yr)
$126,439
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$217k
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Median Debt
$134,714
Earnings (4yr)
$81,632
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,833
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$239,446
Earnings (4yr)
$102,232
Natl Median: $112,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
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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.