College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Washington University in St Louis

St. Louis, MO 7,857 Undergrads 92.8% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$88,488
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$21,786
After Aid
Median Earnings
$95,899
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$21,786
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$95,899
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$86,182
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate92.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age20.0
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients17.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time95.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS88.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
12.1%
SAT Avg
1,530
SAT Reading
25th: 73075075th: 770
SAT Math
25th: 77078075th: 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
+$812k
+$345k
+$327k
Median Cost$22k/yr
+$733k
+$266k
+$249k
Full Cost$88k/yr
+$493k
+$26k
+$9k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
26
∞
Median Cost$22k/yr
30
317%
Full Cost$88k/yr
61
3%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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 Return96%

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-37%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,445
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,980
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
+$59k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,074
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,508
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$348k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$13,500
Earnings (4yr)
$68,359
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
+$750k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$107,843
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$340k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$17,360
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
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$67,212
Natl Median: $81,496
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,384
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$15,250
Earnings (4yr)
$177,066
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$861k
Median Debt
$19,089
Earnings (4yr)
$67,771
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
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
$14,805
Earnings (4yr)
$102,439
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$299k
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
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$185,551
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$925k
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: $68,245
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
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$66,498
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$100,489
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$284k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$18,700
Earnings (4yr)
$98,497
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$269k
Median Debt
$12,503
Earnings (4yr)
$95,965
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$249k
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
-$221k
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
$14,000
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
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$90,778
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$210k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$91,787
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$217k
Psychology, Other
BachCIP: 4299
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,748
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
$15,285
Earnings (4yr)
$75,261
Natl Median: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
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
$23,139
Earnings (4yr)
$119,297
Natl Median: $105,185
Lifetime Value Added
+$427k
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,861
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
+$359k
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$85,000
Earnings (4yr)
$80,963
Natl Median: $77,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$74,222
Natl Median: $74,222
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,936
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Behavioral Sciences
MastCIP: 3017
Median Debt
$96,748
Earnings (4yr)
$75,887
Natl Median: $65,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,165
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
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
$81,700
Earnings (4yr)
$153,933
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$668k
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: $124,201
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
+$789k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$160,419
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
+$724k
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
+$764k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,417
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
-$310k
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,306
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$57,235
Earnings (4yr)
$72,301
Natl Median: $101,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
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
+$331k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$229,459
Natl Median: $198,417
Lifetime Value Added
+$1308k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,515
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$48,630
Earnings (4yr)
$76,874
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,963
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$57,052
Earnings (4yr)
$63,805
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,916
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
-$55k
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$92,540
Earnings (4yr)
$141,243
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$320k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$99,009
Earnings (4yr)
$90,449
Natl Median: $112,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Median Debt
$122,227
Earnings (4yr)
$81,216
Natl Median: $81,641
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k

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.