College ROI

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University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

Tacoma, WA 4,185 Undergrads 74.8% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$28,325
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$11,900
After Aid
Median Earnings
$80,386
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$11,900
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$80,386
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$83,105
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate74.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)22.5
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients44.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time89.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS82.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
82.5%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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
+$685k
+$215k
+$199k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$642k
+$172k
+$156k
Full Cost$28k/yr
+$583k
+$113k
+$97k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
28
∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
32
364%
Full Cost$28k/yr
38
95%
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 Return271%

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 Return23%

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

Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203

Earnings shared by 3 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$14,798
Earnings (4yr)
$88,393
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$229k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501

Earnings shared by 3 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$11,125
Earnings (4yr)
$56,926
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601

Earnings shared by 3 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,443
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202

Earnings shared by 3 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$14,500
Earnings (4yr)
$78,771
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$156k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408

Earnings shared by 2 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$11,987
Earnings (4yr)
$92,010
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$257k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901

Earnings shared by 3 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$12,516
Earnings (4yr)
$64,153
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101

Earnings shared by 3 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$12,601
Earnings (4yr)
$114,798
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$430k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409

Earnings shared by 3 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$13,570
Earnings (4yr)
$169,570
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$841k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301

Earnings shared by 2 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$12,083
Earnings (4yr)
$63,311
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506

Earnings shared by 2 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$14,246
Earnings (4yr)
$87,239
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$220k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301

Earnings shared by 3 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$10,372
Earnings (4yr)
$65,217
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410

Earnings shared by 3 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$13,070
Earnings (4yr)
$116,010
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$439k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502

Earnings shared by 3 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,534
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208

Earnings shared by 2 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$11,455
Earnings (4yr)
$97,452
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$298k
History
BachCIP: 5401

Earnings shared by 2 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$13,470
Earnings (4yr)
$61,059
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020

Earnings shared by 3 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,475
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401

Earnings shared by 3 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$11,951
Earnings (4yr)
$46,844
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214

Earnings shared by 3 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$12,948
Earnings (4yr)
$88,114
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$227k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419

Earnings shared by 3 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$13,447
Earnings (4yr)
$102,078
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$334k
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General
BachCIP: 3000

Earnings shared by 2 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$14,287
Earnings (4yr)
$48,753
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301

Earnings shared by 3 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,229
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Non-Professional Legal Studies
BachCIP: 2200

Earnings shared by 2 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$15,827
Earnings (4yr)
$71,042
Natl Median: $61,959
Lifetime Value Added
+$97k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510

Earnings shared by 3 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$72,487
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201

Earnings shared by 3 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,016
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122

Earnings shared by 3 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$12,059
Earnings (4yr)
$63,666
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138

Earnings shared by 3 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$98,632
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$307k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313

Earnings shared by 2 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$12,739
Earnings (4yr)
$47,124
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609

Earnings shared by 2 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,705
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$1k
Social Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 4599

Earnings shared by 2 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$13,778
Earnings (4yr)
$56,628
Natl Median: $56,812
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407

Earnings shared by 2 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$12,107
Earnings (4yr)
$59,256
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
$9,804
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Urban Studies/Affairs
BachCIP: 4512

Earnings shared by 2 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$14,118
Earnings (4yr)
$63,174
Natl Median: $62,532
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202

Earnings shared by 3 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$56,000
Earnings (4yr)
$194,296
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$1033k
City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning
MastCIP: 0403

Earnings shared by 2 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$49,726
Earnings (4yr)
$85,467
Natl Median: $79,665
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101

Earnings shared by 3 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$37,297
Earnings (4yr)
$170,194
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$826k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
MastCIP: 1110

Earnings shared by 3 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$38,683
Earnings (4yr)
$133,081
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
+$507k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301

Earnings shared by 3 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$20,426
Earnings (4yr)
$84,551
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304

Earnings shared by 3 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$41,949
Earnings (4yr)
$87,362
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$109k
Geography and Cartography
MastCIP: 4507

Earnings shared by 2 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$90,418
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
+$135k
Median Debt
$27,383
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $67,520
Lifetime Value Added
-$375k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138

Earnings shared by 3 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$36,984
Earnings (4yr)
$137,533
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$545k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407

Earnings shared by 2 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$53,831
Earnings (4yr)
$77,163
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312

Earnings shared by 2 University of Washington campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$28,994
Earnings (4yr)
$80,738
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $154,538
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
DocCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$88,195
Natl Median: $87,373
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k

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.