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University of Virginia-Main Campus
Charlottesville, VA 17,315 Undergrads 93.2% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$38,132
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$22,881
After Aid
Median Earnings
$86,863
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$22,881
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$86,863
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate93.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients13.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time96.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS86.9%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
16.9%
SAT Avg
1,488
SAT Reading
25th: 70072075th: 750
SAT Math
25th: 71072075th: 780
ACT Composite
25th: 323475th: 34
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
+$717k
+$320k
+$233k
Median Cost$23k/yr
+$635k
+$238k
+$150k
Full Cost$38k/yr
+$580k
+$183k
+$95k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
27
∞
Median Cost$23k/yr
34
182%
Full Cost$38k/yr
40
69%
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 Return224%
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 Return7%
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
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
BachCIP: 1402
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (5yr)
$93,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$213k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (5yr)
$55,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$20,784
Earnings (5yr)
$73,156
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$21,965
Earnings (5yr)
$57,540
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,063
Earnings (5yr)
$67,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
BachCIP: 1405
Median Debt
$18,400
Earnings (5yr)
$94,692
Lifetime Value Added
+$222k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$130,586
Lifetime Value Added
+$488k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$17,733
Earnings (5yr)
$115,895
Lifetime Value Added
+$380k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$69,058
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning
BachCIP: 0403
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$55,338
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$14,400
Earnings (5yr)
$95,518
Lifetime Value Added
+$228k
Cognitive Science
BachCIP: 3025
Median Debt
$15,625
Earnings (5yr)
$68,592
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$79,620
Lifetime Value Added
+$109k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$17,041
Earnings (5yr)
$59,354
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$16,547
Earnings (5yr)
$160,993
Lifetime Value Added
+$713k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$16,875
Earnings (5yr)
$139,318
Lifetime Value Added
+$553k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$18,771
Lifetime Value Added
-$378k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$18,423
Earnings (5yr)
$95,941
Lifetime Value Added
+$231k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$114,299
Lifetime Value Added
+$368k
Engineering, General
BachCIP: 1401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$86,699
Lifetime Value Added
+$162k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$65,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
$14,100
Earnings (5yr)
$58,297
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$46,334
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$22,973
Earnings (5yr)
$78,439
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$18,250
Earnings (5yr)
$68,242
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$87,416
Lifetime Value Added
+$167k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$17,468
Earnings (5yr)
$133,210
Lifetime Value Added
+$508k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$91,262
Lifetime Value Added
+$196k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$25,716
Earnings (5yr)
$73,091
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (5yr)
$58,888
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,572
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$16,049
Earnings (5yr)
$84,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,268
Earnings (5yr)
$67,873
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other
BachCIP: 4499
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$88,094
Lifetime Value Added
+$172k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$15,260
Earnings (5yr)
$82,057
Lifetime Value Added
+$127k
Religion/Religious Studies
BachCIP: 3802
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$62,116
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$14,491
Earnings (5yr)
$64,686
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$19,239
Earnings (5yr)
$68,316
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
$16,295
Earnings (5yr)
$108,373
Lifetime Value Added
+$324k
Systems Engineering
BachCIP: 1427
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$131,258
Lifetime Value Added
+$493k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$110,165
Lifetime Value Added
+$485k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$76,705
Lifetime Value Added
+$197k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$71,452
Earnings (5yr)
$233,655
Lifetime Value Added
+$1519k
Business/Commerce, General
MastCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$61,118
Earnings (5yr)
$159,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$903k
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning
MastCIP: 0403
Median Debt
$44,600
Earnings (5yr)
$75,045
Lifetime Value Added
+$183k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$69,758
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$60,319
Earnings (5yr)
$72,446
Lifetime Value Added
+$161k
Computer Software and Media Applications
MastCIP: 1108
Median Debt
$38,614
Earnings (5yr)
$170,198
Lifetime Value Added
+$994k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$19,960
Earnings (5yr)
$64,130
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$28,778
Earnings (5yr)
$69,168
Lifetime Value Added
+$132k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$33,776
Earnings (5yr)
$68,548
Lifetime Value Added
+$127k
Management Information Systems and Services
MastCIP: 5212
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$144,240
Lifetime Value Added
+$849k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$45,801
Earnings (5yr)
$78,105
Lifetime Value Added
+$209k
Public Policy Analysis
MastCIP: 4405
Median Debt
$37,240
Earnings (5yr)
$110,885
Lifetime Value Added
+$491k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$55,606
Earnings (5yr)
$107,146
Lifetime Value Added
+$459k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,721
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$54,807
Earnings (5yr)
$58,953
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
Systems Engineering
MastCIP: 1427
Median Debt
$37,900
Earnings (5yr)
$142,475
Lifetime Value Added
+$759k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$21,113
Earnings (5yr)
$56,766
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$29,106
Earnings (5yr)
$57,178
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Doctoral Degrees
Education, General
DocCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$76,511
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$56,522
Earnings (5yr)
$117,601
Lifetime Value Added
+$342k
Professional Degrees
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$178,812
Earnings (5yr)
$247,143
Lifetime Value Added
+$1257k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$159,017
Earnings (5yr)
$136,935
Lifetime Value Added
+$481k
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.