College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Wichita State University

Wichita, KS 10,780 Undergrads 54.9% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$19,966
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$10,307
After Aid
Median Earnings
$59,997
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$10,307
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$59,997
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$56,003
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate54.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)23.6
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients40.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time80.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS72.4%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
94.0%
SAT Avg
1,092
SAT Reading
25th: 47055075th: 610
SAT Math
25th: 43556075th: 630
ACT Composite
25th: 172175th: 25

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
+$529k
+$59k
+$42k
Median Cost$10k/yr
+$492k
+$22k
+$5k
Full Cost$20k/yr
+$457k
-$13k
-$29k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
39
∞
Median Cost$10k/yr
59
15%
Full Cost$20k/yr
Never
-41%
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 Return27%

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-38%

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 →

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
$11,465
Earnings (4yr)
$44,605
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
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Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$69,696
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
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Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$83,057
Natl Median: $98,207
Lifetime Value Added
+$194k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$26,125
Earnings (4yr)
$47,392
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,959
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
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Median Debt
$19,961
Earnings (4yr)
$72,936
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k
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Median Debt
$16,625
Earnings (4yr)
$63,852
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,166
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$119k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$67,475
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
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Median Debt
$15,352
Earnings (4yr)
$69,711
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
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Median Debt
$18,250
Earnings (4yr)
$50,773
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
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Median Debt
$15,833
Earnings (4yr)
$55,638
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
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Median Debt
$13,503
Earnings (4yr)
$81,265
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$181k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,203
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$18,486
Earnings (4yr)
$97,335
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$303k
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Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$51,305
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
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Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$61,982
Natl Median: $68,061
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
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Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (4yr)
$36,723
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$182k
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Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
BachCIP: 1500
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$77,103
Natl Median: $80,526
Lifetime Value Added
+$149k
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Median Debt
$31,687
Earnings (4yr)
$46,768
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,960
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$285k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,308
Earnings (4yr)
$64,060
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,604
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,515
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
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Gerontology
BachCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,051
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,074
Earnings (4yr)
$48,446
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
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Median Debt
$18,579
Earnings (4yr)
$48,537
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,090
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
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Median Debt
$14,951
Earnings (4yr)
$63,150
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
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Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (2yr)
$63,005
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,907
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,366
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
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International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,452
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,421
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$281k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (4yr)
$52,709
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,070
Earnings (4yr)
$89,074
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$240k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (2yr)
$22,806
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$296k
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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
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,833
Natl Median: $62,172
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
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Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,874
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$17,739
Earnings (4yr)
$42,690
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
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Median Debt
$17,910
Earnings (4yr)
$75,784
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$139k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,805
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$20,002
Earnings (4yr)
$49,670
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$42,450
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$13,235
Earnings (4yr)
$47,463
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
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Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,600
Earnings (4yr)
$47,389
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
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Median Debt
$21,780
Earnings (4yr)
$51,728
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
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Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$37,012
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
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Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$93,185
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$163k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $122,434
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$60,000
Earnings (4yr)
$123,921
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$431k
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Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$33,455
Earnings (4yr)
$118,940
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$387k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,526
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$40,015
Earnings (4yr)
$61,406
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$78,114
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
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Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,768
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
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Median Debt
$36,654
Earnings (4yr)
$58,560
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,073
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$83,571
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$417k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,823
Natl Median: $58,524
Lifetime Value Added
-$200k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$80,022
Natl Median: $119,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$76k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,779
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$229k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,681
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,671
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
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Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$110,878
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$356k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$27,550
Earnings (4yr)
$59,219
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
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Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$28,687
Earnings (4yr)
$61,632
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,288
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
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Median Debt
$43,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,508
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
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Systems Engineering
MastCIP: 1427
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $144,565
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $207,164
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,509
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,774
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$101,668
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
+$70k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$68,219
Natl Median: $88,343
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $137,148
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,070
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$112,564
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
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Median Debt
$81,863
Earnings (4yr)
$80,257
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
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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.