College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Washington University in St Louis

St. Louis, MO 7,857 Undergrads 93.2% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$92,523
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,360
After Aid
Median Earnings
$91,480
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$13,360
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$91,480
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$91,497
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate93.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)20.0
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients20.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time95.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS86.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
12.1%
SAT Avg
1,530
SAT Reading
25th: 73075075th: 770
SAT Math
25th: 77079075th: 800
ACT Composite
25th: 333475th: 35

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
+$768k
+$298k
+$282k
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$720k
+$250k
+$234k
Full Cost$93k/yr
+$435k
-$35k
-$51k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
26
∞
Median Cost$13k/yr
29
486%
Full Cost$93k/yr
Never
-15%
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 Return60%

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-49%

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 →

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,445
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,491
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$71,018
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$66,900
Natl Median: $70,074
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,914
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (2yr)
$21,508
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$319k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$14,423
Earnings (4yr)
$68,359
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$71k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$17,741
Earnings (5yr)
$108,028
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$358k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$162,355
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$782k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$107,843
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$372k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,477
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,523
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Cognitive Science
BachCIP: 3025
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (4yr)
$67,212
Natl Median: $81,496
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$15,250
Earnings (4yr)
$177,066
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$892k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (4yr)
$67,771
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
Try this program with your own numbers →
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$102,439
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$331k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (4yr)
$185,551
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$956k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$66,498
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$100,489
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$316k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$98,497
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$301k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$11,500
Earnings (4yr)
$95,965
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$282k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,582
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,612
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,416
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,875
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (4yr)
$90,778
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$242k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$91,787
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$250k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,897
Earnings (4yr)
$75,261
Natl Median: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,887
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Systems Engineering
BachCIP: 1427
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$119,297
Natl Median: $105,185
Lifetime Value Added
+$459k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $128,842
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$118,193
Natl Median: $122,434
Lifetime Value Added
+$375k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$62,750
Earnings (4yr)
$80,963
Natl Median: $77,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Natl Median: $72,487
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,936
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Behavioral Sciences
MastCIP: 3017
Median Debt
$95,317
Earnings (4yr)
$75,887
Natl Median: $65,111
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,165
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$55,030
Earnings (4yr)
$153,933
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$684k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,468
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,499
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$167,975
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$805k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$160,419
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
+$740k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $105,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Dance
MastCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,404
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,871
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)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, Other
MastCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $129,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,486
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$165,087
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
+$780k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,825
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
-$244k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,627
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$64,320
Earnings (4yr)
$72,301
Natl Median: $101,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,282
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$115,029
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$348k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$229,459
Natl Median: $198,417
Lifetime Value Added
+$1325k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,515
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$54,528
Earnings (4yr)
$76,874
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$51,367
Earnings (4yr)
$63,805
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,897
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Systems Engineering
MastCIP: 1427
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $144,565
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $195,803
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
Gr-CertCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,362
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,660
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
DocCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,473
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,683
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $153,586
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,848
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,507
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $113,566
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,578
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,173
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
DocCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $87,373
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, Other
DocCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $140,028
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,831
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,718
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Genetics
DocCIP: 2608
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $102,123
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,039
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,725
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $113,071
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,070
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,435
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,341
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,592
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
DocCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,449
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,153
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,908
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,410
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,860
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
DocCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$90,497
Natl Median: $85,242
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$98,271
Earnings (4yr)
$141,243
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$351k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$75,886
Earnings (4yr)
$90,449
Natl Median: $112,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$142,697
Earnings (4yr)
$81,216
Natl Median: $81,641
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Try this program with your own numbers →

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.