Across 2,202 schools, public universities have an average ROI Score of 62/100 compared to 59/100 for private universities. Private schools cost $1,460 more in median debt but earn $1,881 less in first-year earnings.
Public Universities
Programs Analyzed
11,466
Avg ROI Score
62/100
Avg Median Debt
$25,389
Avg Year 1 Earnings
$58,942
Avg Year 5 Earnings
$81,749
Avg Graduation Rate
100%
Private Universities
Programs Analyzed
18,758
Avg ROI Score
59/100
Avg Median Debt
$26,849
Avg Year 1 Earnings
$57,061
Avg Year 5 Earnings
$78,933
Avg Graduation Rate
100%
Key Finding
Public universities deliver a higher average ROI Score (62 vs 59) primarily because of lower debt levels. While private schools may offer marginally higher earnings, the debt premium of $1,460 often doesn't justify the cost difference.However, the best individual programs at public schools can significantly outperform the average private school program, and vice versa. The major you choose matters more than whether the school is public or private.
On average, public universities have lower debt ($25,389 vs $26,849) and higher ROI scores. However, the best private programs can outperform the average public program. The specific school-major combination matters more than public vs private status.
Private university graduates carry an average of $26,849 in median debt compared to $25,389 at public universities — a difference of $1,460. This gap varies significantly by school and major.
No, public university graduates earn slightly more on average ($58,942 vs $57,061). However, the earnings difference is often smaller than the debt difference, which is why public schools tend to have better ROI.