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Yale University
New Haven, CT 6,811 Undergrads 97.2% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$85,120
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$27,818
After Aid
Median Earnings
$100,533
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$27,818
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$100,533
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate97.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients18.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS89.9%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
4.5%
SAT Avg
1,534
SAT Reading
25th: 74075575th: 780
SAT Math
25th: 76077575th: 800
ACT Composite
25th: 333475th: 35
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
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
+$817k
+$421k
+$333k
Median Cost$28k/yr
+$717k
+$321k
+$233k
Full Cost$85k/yr
+$511k
+$114k
+$27k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
26
∞
Median Cost$28k/yr
31
232%
Full Cost$85k/yr
56
9%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year 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 Return107%
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-34%
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 with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$81,531
Lifetime Value Added
+$105k
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
BachCIP: 2604
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (2yr)
$31,305
Lifetime Value Added
-$280k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$271,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$1477k
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
BachCIP: 2613
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,771
Lifetime Value Added
-$285k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$12,562
Earnings (5yr)
$131,171
Lifetime Value Added
+$475k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,925
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
$13,107
Earnings (2yr)
$35,060
Lifetime Value Added
-$246k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$8,250
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$130,467
Lifetime Value Added
+$470k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$60,161
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$14,749
Earnings (5yr)
$123,834
Lifetime Value Added
+$421k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$217k
Master's Degrees
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
MastCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$138,003
Earnings (5yr)
$129,385
Lifetime Value Added
+$639k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$87,905
Lifetime Value Added
+$284k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$59,278
Earnings (5yr)
$213,202
Lifetime Value Added
+$1346k
Design and Applied Arts
MastCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$59,169
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
MastCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,472
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
MastCIP: 2613
Median Debt
$66,000
Earnings (5yr)
$88,262
Lifetime Value Added
+$287k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$36,700
Earnings (5yr)
$31,040
Lifetime Value Added
-$235k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$127,969
Lifetime Value Added
+$627k
International Relations and National Security Studies
MastCIP: 4509
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$74,576
Lifetime Value Added
+$209k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,421
Lifetime Value Added
-$286k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
MastCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$95,750
Lifetime Value Added
+$352k
Natural Resources Management and Policy
MastCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$90,713
Lifetime Value Added
+$309k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$62,532
Earnings (5yr)
$94,970
Lifetime Value Added
+$345k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$118,849
Earnings (5yr)
$128,563
Lifetime Value Added
+$632k
Religious/Sacred Music
MastCIP: 3905
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,142
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Theological and Ministerial Studies
MastCIP: 3906
Median Debt
$39,785
Earnings (5yr)
$70,739
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
Doctoral Degrees
History
DocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$215k
Law
DocCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$140,977
Earnings (5yr)
$221,083
Lifetime Value Added
+$1064k
Medicine
DocCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$62,778
Earnings (5yr)
$105,217
Lifetime Value Added
+$234k
Public Health
DocCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$100,414
Lifetime Value Added
+$244k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$66,900
Earnings (2yr)
$132,866
Lifetime Value Added
+$493k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, 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 degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.