College ROI

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Yale University

New Haven, CT 6,758 Undergrads 97.8% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$91,950
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$11,340
After Aid
Median Earnings
$119,177
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$11,340
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$119,177
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$118,356
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate97.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age19.5
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients22.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS84.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
3.9%
SAT Avg
1,534
SAT Reading
25th: 73075575th: 780
SAT Math
25th: 74077575th: 790
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
+$975k
+$505k
+$489k
Median Cost$11k/yr
+$934k
+$464k
+$448k
Full Cost$92k/yr
+$644k
+$174k
+$158k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
25
∞
Median Cost$11k/yr
26
1097%
Full Cost$92k/yr
41
48%
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 Return179%

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-13%

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

Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Archeology
BachCIP: 4503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,748
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)
$67,230
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$92,646
Natl Median: $66,697
Lifetime Value Added
+$264k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Cognitive Science
BachCIP: 3025
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,496
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$188,157
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$982k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,439
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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 (2yr)
$30,771
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
-$227k
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Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$142,936
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$644k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering Physics
BachCIP: 1412
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,154
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering Science
BachCIP: 1413
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,782
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,440
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,171
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,213
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$7,500
Earnings (4yr)
$109,947
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
+$395k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$113,788
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$425k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $118,943
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$124,023
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
+$484k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$60,161
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
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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
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$90,764
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$249k
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Median Debt
$9,250
Earnings (4yr)
$65,752
Natl Median: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
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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
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$147,475
Earnings (4yr)
$147,204
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$630k
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Archeology
MastCIP: 4503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,995
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$63,750
Earnings (4yr)
$88,967
Natl Median: $77,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
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Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$92,208
Natl Median: $74,139
Lifetime Value Added
+$136k
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Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,936
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
MastCIP: 5010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,685
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,028
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$100,250
Earnings (4yr)
$234,034
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$1366k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$59,169
Natl Median: $70,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
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Median Debt
$19,143
Earnings (5yr)
$54,329
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
-$198k
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Median Debt
$66,000
Earnings (4yr)
$93,163
Natl Median: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
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Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,215
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,486
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$33,500
Earnings (4yr)
$44,265
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
-$285k
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Median Debt
$83,000
Earnings (4yr)
$113,304
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$337k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,651
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)
-
Natl Median: $63,289
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$74,576
Natl Median: $95,627
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$29,895
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$429k
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Median Debt
$48,501
Earnings (4yr)
$100,347
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
+$223k
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Philosophy
MastCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$53,257
Earnings (4yr)
$105,402
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$268k
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Median Debt
$139,492
Earnings (4yr)
$131,639
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$495k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,737
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Religious Music and Worship
MastCIP: 3905
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,414
Natl Median: $57,264
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
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Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,974
Earnings (4yr)
$70,736
Natl Median: $61,300
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
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Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,409
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Anthropology
DocCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,473
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,729
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Architecture
DocCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,586
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
DocCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,249
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,233
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: $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)
$125,373
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
+$241k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $154,538
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,704
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,231
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,173
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$132,716
Natl Median: $133,630
Lifetime Value Added
+$295k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,831
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,271
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,797
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
History
DocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $70,550
Lifetime Value Added
-$374k
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Law
DocCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$157,082
Earnings (4yr)
$188,189
Natl Median: $105,518
Lifetime Value Added
+$701k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $113,071
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
DocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,755
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Medicine
DocCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$55,000
Earnings (4yr)
$100,955
Natl Median: $118,504
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,435
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,328
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: $87,076
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,943
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: $93,640
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,908
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
DocCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$100,414
Natl Median: $108,962
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k
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Median Debt
$85,463
Earnings (4yr)
$159,655
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$493k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,164
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,812
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
DocCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
DocCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $156,733
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

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.