1. [College research](/) 2. / 3. Oregon State University Research brief & institution hub Copy linkPrint brief # Oregon State University OR · Large public institution · Overall rank #126 nationally Data snapshot September 27, 2026 · Updated October 1, 2026 Overview[Cost & aid](/school/oregon-state-university/cost/)[Outcomes](/school/oregon-state-university/outcomes/)[Admissions](/school/oregon-state-university/admissions/)[Majors](/school/oregon-state-university/majors/)[Similar schools](/school/oregon-state-university/similar/) ## A 91st percentile public university among nonprofit four-year institutions, according to Azimuth. ### Who it’s a good fit for Oregon State University is a public university in Corvallis, Oregon, where Engineering, Computer & Information Sciences, and Business lead the degree mix. Mobility is among the highest we track. Graduates out-earn what the model predicts for students like them, and the typical graduate earns above the median at comparable schools. The model attributes that gain to the factors it measures, while the remainder it cannot explain subtracts from it. Pell recipients finish below the rate for the entering cohort as a whole, and access is well above average. Affordability is above average, the weakest of the four pillars, so the price case turns on income. The admission rate is close to the median for comparable schools. The largest program, Computer Science, is also the highest-paying one, so the degree mix and the earnings picture point the same way. ## Oregon State at a glance ### Admissions and outcomes **Admission rate[\[1\]](#hub-data-note-admission)** 77.3% **Six-year completion[\[2\]](#hub-data-note-completion)** 70.1% **Four-year earnings[\[3\]](#hub-data-note-earnings)** $71,799 ### Cost and family borrowing **Average annual net price · $48–75K family income[\[6\]](#hub-data-note-net-price)** $15,729 **Median student debt[\[4\]](#hub-data-note-student-debt)** $21,221 **Median Parent PLUS debt[\[7\]](#hub-data-note-gps)** $28,923 ## Oregon State rankings: how Azimuth assesses value[\[5\]](#hub-data-note-rankings) Oregon State University is a public university in Corvallis, Oregon, enrolling 30,743 undergraduates. Its composite standing sits near the top of the Azimuth ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions (91st percentile). The university admits 77.3% of applicants, against a median of 78.1% for comparable institutions of the same type and size. 87.8% of full-time bachelor's-seeking first-year students return for a second year, compared with the median for comparable institutions of 83.1%. 70.1% of the first-time full-time cohort complete a degree within six years, compared with a median of 65.0%. An estimated 43.3% of undergraduates arrive as transfers or part-time students, and the six-year rate describes the first-time full-time cohort only. The four pillars are spread across the ranking. Mobility is the strongest (95th percentile), while affordability is the weakest (57th percentile). Access and return sit between them (76th and 70th percentiles), giving the university its overall shape. Mobility is the clearest strength for Oregon State University, placing it in the 95th percentile in Azimuth’s coverage of nonprofit four-year institutions. Access stands in the 76th percentile and return in the 70th percentile. Affordability is the weakest pillar at the 57th percentile. The strong mobility result sits alongside more middle-of-the-pack affordability, so the school’s overall picture depends on both outcomes and family cost. Pell Grants reach 22.8% of undergraduates at Oregon State University, the federal aid measure Azimuth uses to gauge financial access. Pell recipients finish at 55.2%, which sits below the overall [six-year graduation rate](/analysis/what-the-graduation-rate-doesnt-count/) by 14.9 percentage points (the entering cohort as a whole completes at 70.1%). Azimuth ranks the university #353 for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks the university #71 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,285 more than the model expects for similar students. [How value-added outcomes are assessed](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) · [How to interpret program rankings](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) Oregon State rankings in context | Geography | Rank | | --- | --- | | National | #126 | Azimuth overall value rankings within each geographic comparison group. ### National pillar percentiles **Economic mobility** National percentile: 95 **Access & reach** National percentile: 76 **[Affordability](/school/oregon-state-university/cost/)** National percentile: 57 **[Return on investment](/school/oregon-state-university/outcomes/)** National percentile: 70 ### Top-ranked majors 1. Construction Engineering**#1** 2. Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management**#2** 3. Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services**#5** This school’s three highest-ranked programs nationally. Each rank compares bachelor’s programs in the same field; field sizes differ. [Explore major rankings](/school/oregon-state-university/majors/#major-rankings) 01 / Oregon State briefing ## [Oregon State cost & financial aid](/school/oregon-state-university/cost/)[\[6\]](#hub-data-note-net-price)[\[7\]](#hub-data-note-gps) The published cost of attendance at Oregon State University is $31,653. In its 2025-26 Common Data Set, the university reported in-state tuition of $13,440 and required fees of $2,592 for the 2026-27 academic year. On-campus food and housing added $19,011 to the sticker price. Out-of-state students face a higher published tuition of $40,155. 50.5% of full-time undergraduates pay more than the base tuition and fees. After grants and scholarships, the average cost for aid recipients is $19,604, which is $3,970 above the middle value of $15,634 for comparable institutions. Financial aid reduces the published cost by $12,049 on average. Azimuth ranks the university #614 for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Family costs vary substantially by income band at Oregon State University, where the published cost of attendance is $31,653. Average [net price](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/), what aid recipients pay after grants and scholarships, is $12,107 in the lowest family-income band; $13,036 in the next band; $15,729 in the middle band; $20,262 in the next-highest band; and $27,459 in the highest family-income band. The spread between the lowest and highest bands is $15,352. Azimuth ranks the university #614 for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Aid covers about 38% of the published cost for the average aid recipient, offsetting $12,049 against the sticker price. Across all aid recipients, the average net price is $19,604. The peer median, the middle value for comparable institutions (same type and size), is $15,634, placing the university's average $3,970 above that benchmark. Aid reduces the published cost, though the average price remains above the comparable-institution median. Federal-loan borrowers who complete leave with median federal student loan debt of $21,221, and 86.0% of federal aid recipients borrow federal loans. That median is $1,145 above the $20,076 peer median for comparable institutions (same type and size). [Parent PLUS](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) borrowers have median borrowing of $28,923. The median federal student debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $241 a month if repaid over ten years. Your family income Choose a household income range to see estimated net price. $0–30K$30–48K$48–75K$75–110K$110K+ Reported average annual net price · $48–75K**$15,729** After grants and scholarships. Your aid offer may differ. Averages within each income band; individual aid packages vary. ### Borrowing and repayment at Oregon State At Oregon State University, 86.0% of federal aid recipients take federal loans. Among borrowers who complete, median federal student loan debt is $21,221. The peer median, the middle value for comparable institutions (same type and size), is $20,076, placing the university’s figure $1,145 above it. For the separate parent-borrower population, median [Parent PLUS](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) borrowing is $28,923. In its 2025-26 Common Data Set, the university reported that 41% of graduates borrowed from any source, averaging $25,935 in cumulative debt per borrower. Among graduates, 40% had federal loans averaging $18,409. The report also lists 7% of graduates with private loans, including graduates who may also hold federal loans, averaging $44,881. Oregon State University graduates earn above the peer median and the model's expectation, while median federal debt sits slightly above the peer median. Four years after completing a degree, federally aided graduates who are working and not enrolled earn a median of $71,799, a figure in the 78th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,285 more than the model expects for similar students, an outcome at the 64th percentile. Earnings scenarios, estimated from the program mix, range from $49,915 in a downside case to $111,911 in an upside case, with a typical estimate of $71,799. On the borrowing side, the median federal student debt at completion is $21,221, which is $1,145 above the peer median. That debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $241 a month if repaid over ten years. Parent borrowing is separate from student loans, so it belongs in a family cost review. Among [Parent PLUS](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) borrowers, median borrowing is $28,923. For student borrowers, their median federal debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $241 a month if repaid over ten years. [How Financial GPS measures payment burden](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/) · [The four risk-and-reward zones](/analysis/4-zones-of-college-risk-and-reward/) Financial GPS ### What does repayment look like? **Institution median student debt** $21,221 **Institution Parent PLUS debt** $28,923 Federal loans only; private or institutional loans aren’t included. **Estimated student payment · monthly** $241/mo **Estimated Parent PLUS payment · monthly** $367/mo Payments use school-wide median balances, not a specific major’s. Payment assumptions Payments are 10-year standard payments on the median balance, before loan fees, used as a yardstick. Rates for newly issued loans may differ, and loans made after July 1, 2026 can repay over a longer term; existing loans keep their original fixed rates. [Explore your own numbers in Financial GPS](/financial-gps/?tool=student&school=oregon-state-university#student-tool) [Read the full cost & aid brief](/school/oregon-state-university/cost/) 02 / Oregon State briefing ## [Oregon State career outcomes & earnings](/school/oregon-state-university/outcomes/)[\[3\]](#hub-data-note-earnings)[\[8\]](#hub-data-note-scenarios)[\[9\]](#hub-data-note-value-added) For Oregon State University, four-year earnings sit above the peer median. Federally aided completers who are working and not enrolled have median earnings of $71,799 four years after completion. That figure is in the 78th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. This is $6,189 above the peer median, the middle value for comparable institutions (same type and size), of $65,610. Azimuth places the return pillar in the 70th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,285 more than the model expects for similar students. That measure is in the 64th percentile. The part the model attributes to the factors it measures (field of study, enrollment and the local labor market) adds $13,822. The part it attributes to a remainder it does not explain subtracts $11,537. Above-peer earnings and above-expected earnings point the same way. Among Oregon State University completers who are working and not enrolled four years after graduation, the median for those who received federal aid is $71,799. That is $6,189 above the $65,610 median for comparable institutions (same type and size). The median sits in the 78th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, drawn from an earnings cohort of 5,641 completers. Graduates earn about $2,285 more than the model expects for similar students. That result compares observed pay to the model's expectation for similar students. That outcome falls at the 64th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Earnings scenarios estimated from the program mix run from a downside of $49,915 to an upside of $111,911, with a typical level of $71,799. Based on the program mix, an estimated 27.2% of graduates continue to graduate study. For Oregon State University, the earnings picture starts with median earnings of $71,799 four years after completion, in the 78th percentile. Comparable institutions (same type and size) have a peer median, the middle value for that group, of $65,610; the university's median is $6,189 above it. Graduates earn about $2,285 more than the model expects for similar students. [Earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/), the gap between what graduates earn and what the model expects for similar students, sits in the 64th percentile. The part the model attributes to the factors it measures (field of study, enrollment and the local labor market) adds $13,822. The part it attributes to a remainder it does not explain subtracts $11,537. Within the measured factors, the STEM component adds $4,965. Grounded in the program mix, the downside and upside earnings scenarios are $49,915 and $111,911. Azimuth places the return pillar in the 70th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Computer Science is the largest program, with 843 degrees awarded and median earnings of $121,405 four years after completion. [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) it #46 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions in its field. Construction Engineering has median earnings of $105,964 four years after completion, and Azimuth ranks it #1 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions in its field. Physics has median earnings of $103,167 four years after completion, or 1.34x the national median for its field. Earnings vary widely across Oregon State University’s program mix, rather than clustering around a single outcome. Its earnings scenarios range from $49,915 on the downside to $111,911 on the upside, with $71,799 as the typical scenario. At the upper end, Computer Science completers earn median $121,405 four years after completion; Construction Engineering reaches $105,964, and Electrical Engineering reaches $105,359. Those program figures show why the modeled range is broad. At Oregon State University, borrowing is close to the peer level even as graduates earn more than the model expects. Graduates earn about $2,285 more than the model expects for similar students. Borrowers who complete have median federal student loan debt of $21,221, $1,145 above the $20,076 median at comparable institutions (same type and size). That debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $241 a month if repaid over ten years. Parent PLUS borrowers, a separate population, have median debt of $28,923. Average net price, what aid recipients pay after grants and scholarships, is $19,604, $3,970 above the $15,634 peer median. Across family-income bands, average net price is $12,107 in the lowest band, $13,036 in the next band, $15,729 in the middle band, $20,262 in the next-highest band, and $27,459 in the highest band. Higher-than-expected earnings sit alongside above-peer debt and above-peer aid-recipient prices. What explains value-added earnings? **Program & institutional factors The part attributed to observed institutional characteristics.** +$13,822 **Unexplained remainder What remains after the model’s observed factors.** \-$11,537 **Total modeled value added The modeled difference from expected earnings.** +$2,285 These are statistical model components, not proven causal effects; the remainder is not a direct measure of teaching quality. [Read the full outcomes brief](/school/oregon-state-university/outcomes/) 03 / Oregon State briefing ## [Oregon State acceptance rate & admissions](/school/oregon-state-university/admissions/)[\[1\]](#hub-data-note-admission)[\[10\]](#hub-data-note-sat)[\[11\]](#hub-data-note-retention) In its 2025-26 Common Data Set, the university reported 29,362 first-year applicants, 23,172 admitted applicants, and 4,452 enrolled students. Oregon State University admitted 77.3% of applicants, below the median of 78.1% for comparable institutions (same type and size). The admission rate describes an outcome across the applicant pool rather than an individual forecast. SAT: reported composite scores **Admission rate** 77.3% **25th percentile** 1128 **Median** 1270 **75th percentile** 1360 CDS 2025-26 · enrolled first-year score submitters. This range is not an admission cutoff. [Read the full admissions brief](/school/oregon-state-university/admissions/) 04 / Oregon State briefing ## [What are the largest majors at Oregon State?](/school/oregon-state-university/majors/)[\[12\]](#hub-data-note-programs) The largest program, Computer Science, is also the highest-earning: 843 degrees awarded and median earnings of $121,405 four years after completion. [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) it #46 nationally within its field. Engineering fields dominate the upper end of the earnings range. Mechanical Engineering graduates earn a median of $93,740 from 315 degrees awarded, and Azimuth ranks the program #68 nationally. Construction Engineering, a smaller program at 75 degrees, posts $105,964 and holds the top national rank in its field. At the more moderate-earning end, Psychology awards 275 degrees and shows median earnings of $57,650; Azimuth ranks it #67 nationally. Human Development and Family Studies is similar in scale at 205 degrees awarded, with earnings of $53,109 and a national rank of #21. The spread between the highest- and moderate-earning programs is wide, and the institution's overall median sits between them. Oregon State University has 49 bachelor’s programs with an Azimuth national rank, with 56 fields publishing earnings data. The ranked fields span sharply different degree volumes and earnings, making the intended major especially important here. [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) Construction Engineering #1 nationally within its field; it awarded 75 degrees and its completers had median earnings of $105,964 four years after completion. Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy ranks #6 nationally, with 114 degrees awarded and median earnings of $52,730 four years after completion. Oregon State University awards bachelor's degrees across 49 ranked programs, with four-year earnings data published for 56. The degree mix leans heavily toward technical fields: Engineering accounts for 17.5% of bachelor's degrees awarded, and Computer & Information Sciences and Business are tied at 14.5% each. The largest programs are Computer Science at 843 degrees awarded, Business Administration and Management at 452, and Mechanical Engineering at 315. Computer Science is also the highest-earning program, with a median of $121,405 four years after completion. [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) it #46 nationally within its field and #1 in Oregon. The highest-ranked program is Construction Engineering. It awards 75 degrees a year and its completers earn a median of $105,964 four years after completion. Physics is another standout: with a benchmark ratio of 1.34x against the national median for its field, its completers earn $103,167 four years after completion. Strength is concentrated in engineering and computer science, where the largest programs also post the highest earnings. Several smaller programs—Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management, Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services, and Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy—hold top-ten national ranks within their fields, showing that the university's reach extends well beyond its largest departments. The earnings picture for fields where graduate study is common may understate later-career paths. Four-year earnings · six largest reported fields **Computer Science 843 degrees awarded** $121,405 **Business Administration, Management and Operations 452 degrees awarded** $73,660 **Mechanical Engineering 315 degrees awarded** $93,740 **Psychology, General 275 degrees awarded** $57,650 **Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services 205 degrees awarded** $53,109 **Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness 194 degrees awarded** $57,451 Fields selected by reported completions. Counts describe credentials awarded, not unique students or the earnings sample. Bars show median four-year earnings. [Read the full majors brief](/school/oregon-state-university/majors/) 05 / Oregon State briefing ## How does Oregon State serve students from different backgrounds? Oregon State University has a strong mobility profile, with a 70.1% [six-year graduation rate](/analysis/what-the-graduation-rate-doesnt-count/) for the first-time full-time cohort. Among Pell recipients in that cohort, six-year completion is 55.2%, below the overall rate by 14.9 percentage points. Four years after completion, graduates earn about $2,285 more than the model expects for similar students; this earnings-beyond-expectations measure, the gap between what graduates earn and what the model expects for similar students, is in the 64th percentile. Azimuth places the mobility pillar in the 95th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Strong overall completion and higher-than-expected earnings sit alongside a lower Pell completion rate. An admission rate of 77.3% makes entry a central part of the access picture at Oregon State University. Of 30,743 undergraduates, 22.8% receive Pell Grants, a financial-access measure, and an estimated 43.3% are transfer-in. Azimuth places the access pillar in the 76th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. The scale of undergraduate enrollment, Pell participation, and transfer entry gives that access placement concrete context. 06 / Oregon State briefing ## [What colleges are similar to Oregon State?](/school/oregon-state-university/similar/)[\[15\]](#hub-data-note-peers) Azimuth groups alternatives by admissions, location, cost and earnings, then orders candidates within each group. Peer earnings use the matched four-year cohort. [How matching works](/school/oregon-state-university/similar/#peer-matching). ### A shortlist for different decisions Choose a row to compare the figures with Oregon State. Admissions peerTrine University85.5% admitted+ Comparison with Oregon State | Measure | Oregon State | Trine University | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $71,799 | $67,814\-$3,985 vs Oregon State | | Average annual net price | $19,604 | $25,355+$5,751 vs Oregon State · higher cost | | Admission rate | 77.3% | 85.5% | [Explore Trine University →](/school/trine-university/) Higher-admission alternativeGeorge Fox University93.5% admitted+ Comparison with Oregon State | Measure | Oregon State | George Fox University | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $71,799 | $69,145\-$2,654 vs Oregon State | | Average annual net price | $19,604 | $31,679+$12,075 vs Oregon State · higher cost | | Admission rate | 77.3% | 93.5% | Nearby alternativeGeorge Fox UniversityNearby option · OR+ Comparison with Oregon State | Measure | Oregon State | George Fox University | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $71,799 | $69,145\-$2,654 vs Oregon State | | Average annual net price | $19,604 | $31,679+$12,075 vs Oregon State · higher cost | | Admission rate | 77.3% | 93.5% | Higher-earnings alternativeSouth Dakota School of Mines and Technology$87,878 earnings+ Comparison with Oregon State | Measure | Oregon State | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $71,799 | $87,878+$16,079 vs Oregon State | | Average annual net price | $19,604 | $20,183+$579 vs Oregon State · higher cost | | Admission rate | 77.3% | 79.9% | Lower-cost alternativePortland State University$9,552 average net price+ Comparison with Oregon State | Measure | Oregon State | Portland State University | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $71,799 | $62,060\-$9,739 vs Oregon State | | Average annual net price | $19,604 | $9,552\-$10,052 vs Oregon State · lower cost | | Admission rate | 77.3% | 90.9% | [Explore Portland State University →](/school/portland-state-university/) Similar profileUniversity of Colorado BoulderMatched across several measures+ Comparison with Oregon State | Measure | Oregon State | University of Colorado Boulder | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $71,799 | $76,850+$5,051 vs Oregon State | | Average annual net price | $19,604 | $25,346+$5,742 vs Oregon State · higher cost | | Admission rate | 77.3% | 78.1% | [Explore University of Colorado Boulder →](/school/university-of-colorado-boulder/) Each school is the first-ranked match in its category, not a recommendation across every measure. The same college may lead more than one category. Figures use the matching snapshot; earnings reflect the matched four-year cohort. — means unavailable. [Read the full similar schools brief](/school/oregon-state-university/similar/) ## Data scope & methodology Structured payloads generated September 27, 2026 · Governed hub narrative September 28, 2026 · Governed spoke corpus September 28, 2026 Four-year earnings describe cohorts of completers. Figures for other horizons describe different cohorts and are not joined into a career-growth projection. Azimuth's overall rank and pillar percentiles come from the school profile. Absolute pillar ranks, city, enrollment and official-site links are shown only when structured data supplies them. Detailed earnings, cost, admissions and program values come from the endpoint responsible for each measure. Missing values are not replaced with zero. Value-added estimates are model associations, not causal effects. Figures are refreshed with each data release, at most a quarter apart. The underlying source dates can be earlier than the release. Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source. Analysis and methodology by [Daniel Rogers](/about/#founder), founder of College Azimuth. [Read the ranking methodology, data definitions and limitations](/methodology/) · [About College Azimuth](/about/) Read the analysis behind [value-added earnings](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) and the [change to four-year graduate earnings](/analysis/college-scorecard-2026-4-year-vs-10-year-earnings-2-2/). These articles are published on collegeazimuth.com. ## Data notes & source fields Scorecard field codes identify the underlying measure; Azimuth-derived values are labeled separately. Snapshot dates are not measurement years. Source populations and reporting periods differ across measures. Field definitions are in the [U.S. Department of Education · College Scorecard documentation](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/files/InstitutionDataDocumentation.pdf); notes with a different source link it below. 1. **Admission rate.** Reported applicants admitted; not a transfer-specific or individual admission probability. Source fields: `ADM_RATE` 2. **Six-year completion.** First-time, full-time students completing at the institution within 150% of normal time, typically six years for a bachelor’s degree. Source fields: `C150_4` 3. **Four-year institutional earnings.** Median earnings of graduates in the reported cohort who are working and not enrolled, four years after completion. Source fields: `MD_EARN_WNE_4YR` 4. **Median federal student debt.** Federal student-loan debt among completers in the reported borrowing cohort. Excludes Parent PLUS and is not total debt across all students. Source fields: `GRAD_DEBT_MDN` 5. **National, regional and state ranks; pillar percentiles; major ranks.** Derived scores within the stated eligible comparison set, not raw Scorecard fields. Major ranks compare institutions within a field; their denominators differ. Source fields: `Azimuth rankings` [College Azimuth · Ranking methodology](/methodology/) 6. **Annual net price by family income.** Average annual cost after grants and scholarships for the eligible first-time, full-time aid-recipient cohort. Public-school figures reflect in-state tuition. Includes living costs; these are averages, not medians or individual offers. Source fields: `NPT4_PUB/PRIV; NPT41_PUB/PRIV through NPT45_PUB/PRIV` 7. **Parent PLUS debt, payments and GPS illustration.** Stored payments use Financial GPS loan and repayment assumptions. The adjustable spectrum applies the published framework to annual student payments divided by earnings minus an expense allowance; its initial allowance uses the frozen 2024 framework baseline. It is an illustration rather than a school rating. Parent PLUS uses the completer median where available, otherwise the all-borrower median; these describe different borrowing populations. Source fields: `PLUS_DEBT_ALL_COMP_MD; fallback PLUS_DEBT_ALL_MD; Azimuth Financial GPS calculations` [College Azimuth · Financial GPS methodology](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/) 8. **Downside and upside earnings; yellow band.** The band spans the modeled lower and higher scenarios. It is not the P25–P75 interval for individual graduates. The median marker is the separately reported institutional median. Source fields: `Azimuth modeled program-mix scenarios` [College Azimuth · Earnings scenario methodology](/analysis/median-roi-hides-a-harsh-reality/) 9. **Value added and its components.** Observed-factor attribution plus the unexplained remainder equals total modeled value added. These are associations, not proven causal effects; the remainder is not a direct measure of teaching quality. Source fields: `Azimuth statistical model` [College Azimuth · Value-added methodology](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) 10. **SAT score range and reported midpoint.** Reported scores of enrolled score-submitters, not admission cutoffs. The midpoint field is not necessarily the middle of the displayed range. Source fields: `SATVR25 + SATMT25; SATVR75 + SATMT75; SAT_AVG` 11. **First-year retention.** Retention of the reported full-time cohort at four-year institutions. Source fields: `RET_FT4` 12. **Program earnings, completion counts and major-mix dots.** Included bachelor’s programs have at least five reported completions. Counts are aggregated credentials, not unique people or an earnings sample. Major-mix dots group those counts by field of study; excluded programs are not zero activity. Source fields: `EARN_MDN_4YR; IPEDSCOUNT1; CIPCODE` [College Scorecard · Field-of-study technical documentation](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/assets/FieldOfStudyDataDocumentation.pdf) 13. **Pell recipients.** Share of undergraduates receiving a Pell Grant in the reported academic year. Source fields: `PCTPELL` 14. **Entering students outside the first-time, full-time group.** This is not an observed transfer-in rate. It includes part-time entrants and other entering-student attendance patterns. Source fields: `1 − PFTFTUG1_EF` 15. **Peer earnings and signed differences.** Differences are peer minus this school, from the same matching snapshot. A positive earnings difference does not mean the peer is better on every measure. Source fields: `Azimuth peer model using MD_EARN_WNE_4YR` [College Azimuth · Comparison methodology](/methodology/) [How to interpret program rankings](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/)