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Walden University
Minneapolis, MN 9,136 Undergrads 33.1% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$36,522
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$29,899
After Aid
Median Earnings
$86,059
5yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$29,899
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$86,059Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Warning: This school's reported earnings inflated significantly (+57%) when the Dept of Education excluded non-graduates from the dataset. Take caution when comparing.
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$54,715Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate33.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average starting age (2015-17)36.1
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients59.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time25.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.4%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -
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
+$728k
+$258k
+$241k
Median Cost$30k/yr
+$620k
+$150k
+$134k
Full Cost$37k/yr
+$596k
+$126k
+$110k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
27
∞
Median Cost$30k/yr
36
124%
Full Cost$37k/yr
38
84%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
- 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 Return248%
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 Return13%
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,148
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$32,500
Earnings (4yr)
$66,978
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$325
Business/Corporate Communications
BachCIP: 5205
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,633
Natl Median: $65,784
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
BachCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,314
Natl Median: $50,523
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,043
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$44,394
Earnings (4yr)
$89,230
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$171k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$33,334
Earnings (4yr)
$52,456
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Curriculum and Instruction
BachCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$92,826
Natl Median: $50,452
Lifetime Value Added
+$184k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,848
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$238k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$32,417
Earnings (4yr)
$58,602
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Median Debt
$27,168
Earnings (4yr)
$61,434
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,103
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Human Services, General
BachCIP: 4400
Median Debt
$38,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,040
Natl Median: $48,597
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General
BachCIP: 3000
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$37,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,974
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Public Administration
BachCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$78,286
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
+$76k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$31,167
Earnings (4yr)
$63,061
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Median Debt
$13,373
Earnings (4yr)
$106,892
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$305k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$36,466
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$29,511
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,233
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$82,853
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$40,250
Earnings (4yr)
$56,934
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Communication and Media Studies
MastCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,533
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$220k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$91,087
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,679
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$162k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$34,333
Earnings (4yr)
$80,064
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$64,694
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$37,259
Earnings (4yr)
$55,023
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$215k
Finance and Financial Management Services
MastCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$79,613
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Homeland Security
MastCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$86,888
Natl Median: $96,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$71k
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$39,710
Earnings (4yr)
$69,182
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Human Services, General
MastCIP: 4400
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,751
Natl Median: $57,050
Lifetime Value Added
-$199k
Management Information Systems and Services
MastCIP: 5212
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$109,874
Natl Median: $106,092
Lifetime Value Added
+$273k
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,462
Natl Median: $79,106
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Median Debt
$75,167
Earnings (4yr)
$60,034
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$47,834
Earnings (4yr)
$60,895
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$68,434
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$68,575
Earnings (4yr)
$72,906
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Public Policy Analysis
MastCIP: 4405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$84,035
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
Median Debt
$60,965
Earnings (4yr)
$122,823
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$385k
Research and Experimental Psychology
MastCIP: 4227
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,809
Natl Median: $63,216
Lifetime Value Added
-$227k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$68,334
Earnings (4yr)
$63,559
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$67,888
Earnings (4yr)
$57,267
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$194k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,860
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$207k
Graduate Certificates
Curriculum and Instruction
Gr-CertCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$77,566
Natl Median: $69,033
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
Education, General
Gr-CertCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (4yr)
$74,809
Natl Median: $69,448
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Educational Administration and Supervision
Gr-CertCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$59,948
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities
Gr-CertCIP: 5132
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,957
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,709
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Doctoral Degrees
Median Debt
$118,421
Earnings (4yr)
$105,432
Natl Median: $113,566
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
DocCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$140,029
Earnings (4yr)
$77,515
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
-$180k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
DocCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $154,538
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections
DocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$142,408
Earnings (4yr)
$85,639
Natl Median: $86,427
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Education, General
DocCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$134,639
Earnings (4yr)
$94,881
Natl Median: $87,373
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
DocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$111,792
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $126,299
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$127,872
Earnings (4yr)
$113,723
Natl Median: $101,669
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
Human Services, General
DocCIP: 4400
Median Debt
$158,017
Earnings (4yr)
$72,722
Natl Median: $70,068
Lifetime Value Added
-$216k
Psychology, General
DocCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$153,599
Earnings (4yr)
$80,203
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Public Administration
DocCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$124,220
Earnings (4yr)
$100,861
Natl Median: $99,464
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Public Health
DocCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$137,956
Earnings (4yr)
$108,951
Natl Median: $108,962
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Median Debt
$87,663
Earnings (4yr)
$132,421
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$226k
Social Work
DocCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$138,500
Earnings (4yr)
$99,933
Natl Median: $98,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
DocCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$92,301
Natl Median: $83,794
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
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.