1. [College research](/) 2. / 3. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Research brief & institution hub Copy linkPrint brief # University of Nebraska-Lincoln NE · Large public institution · Overall rank #272 nationally Data snapshot September 27, 2026 · Updated October 1, 2026 Overview[Cost & aid](/school/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/cost/)[Outcomes](/school/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/outcomes/)[Admissions](/school/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/admissions/)[Majors](/school/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/majors/)[Similar schools](/school/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/similar/) ## [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) the University of Nebraska-Lincoln #272 nationally. ### Who it’s a good fit for The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is a public university in Lincoln, Nebraska, where Business and Engineering lead the degree mix alongside an Agriculture and Natural Resources presence. Mobility is well above average. Graduates earn about what the model predicts for students like them, and the typical graduate earns below the median at comparable schools. The model adds for the factors it measures and subtracts for what it cannot explain. Pell recipients complete at a rate below the overall cohort, and access is above average. Families at the bottom of the income scale pay well below the published cost, while those at the top pay closer to it. The admission rate is above the median for comparable schools, and most graduates are estimated to go into work rather than further study. A student drawn to the largest programs should know that the best-paid ones are in Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering, not in the biggest departments. ## University of Nebraska-Lincoln at a glance ### Admissions and outcomes **Admission rate[\[1\]](#hub-data-note-admission)** 87.5% **Six-year completion[\[2\]](#hub-data-note-completion)** 67.0% **Four-year earnings[\[3\]](#hub-data-note-earnings)** $62,769 ### Cost and family borrowing **Average annual net price · $48–75K family income[\[6\]](#hub-data-note-net-price)** $14,699 **Median student debt[\[4\]](#hub-data-note-student-debt)** $21,000 **Median Parent PLUS debt[\[7\]](#hub-data-note-gps)** $25,798 ## University of Nebraska-Lincoln rankings: how Azimuth assesses value[\[5\]](#hub-data-note-rankings) The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is a public university in Lincoln, Nebraska, enrolling 19,178 undergraduates. Its composite standing sits in the upper fifth of the Azimuth ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions (82nd percentile). The university admits 87.5% of applicants, a rate above the 78.1% median for comparable institutions of the same type and size. Among full-time first-year students, 86.0% return for a second year, against a peer median of 83.1%. The [six-year graduation rate](/analysis/what-the-graduation-rate-doesnt-count/) is 67.0%, compared with a median of 65.0% for similar schools. An estimated 14.2% of undergraduates arrive as transfers or part-time students, so the graduation rate describes a first-time full-time cohort that does not represent the entire student body. The four pillars sit close together, with mobility the strongest at the 88th percentile and access the weakest at the 64th percentile. Return and affordability fall in between, at the 65th and 65th percentiles respectively. The shape is a broad-access public university where the pillars are tightly grouped, with mobility leading by a modest margin. For University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the mobility pillar is the clearest strength in the Azimuth framework, landing in the 88th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access is the weakest of the four at the 64th percentile, with return at the 65th percentile and affordability at the 65th percentile. Overall, [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) the university #272 among 1,467 nonprofit four-year institutions. For enrolled students who submitted test scores, the middle 50% of SAT scores fell between 1,098 and 1,330. The middle 50% of ACT scores fell between 22 and 28. 22.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Azimuth ranks University of Nebraska-Lincoln #527 for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Pell recipients complete at 57.8%, 9.2 percentage points below the overall rate for the entering cohort. Mobility is the strongest pillar at the university. Azimuth ranks the university #171 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $671 more than the model expects for similar students, effectively at the expected level. [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/) University of Nebraska-Lincoln rankings in context | Geography | Rank | | --- | --- | | National | #272 | Azimuth overall value rankings within each geographic comparison group. ### National pillar percentiles **Economic mobility** National percentile: 88 **Access & reach** National percentile: 64 **[Affordability](/school/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/cost/)** National percentile: 65 **[Return on investment](/school/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/outcomes/)** National percentile: 65 ### Top-ranked majors 1. Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services**#4** 2. Agricultural Mechanization**#5** 3. Biological/Biosystems Engineering**#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/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/majors/#major-rankings) 01 / University of Nebraska-Lincoln briefing ## [University of Nebraska-Lincoln cost & financial aid](/school/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/cost/)[\[6\]](#hub-data-note-net-price)[\[7\]](#hub-data-note-gps) The University of Nebraska-Lincoln publishes a cost of attendance of $26,697, which includes in-state tuition of $10,434 and room and board of $14,120. Out-of-state students pay a higher tuition of $28,584. After grants and scholarships, the average [net price](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) for aid recipients—what they actually pay—drops to $17,747, a savings of $8,950 off the sticker total. That average net price runs above the peer median of $15,634 for comparable institutions (same type and size) by $2,113. Azimuth ranks the university #496 for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Aid covers about 34% of the published cost for the average aid recipient, so the sticker figure overstates what the average aid recipient pays. The net price and the peer gap together show a school where the published price is a starting point, not the destination. The published cost of attendance at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is $26,697, with in-state tuition and fees of $10,434 and room and board at $14,120. For families earning under $30,000, the average [net price](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/)—what aid recipients pay after grants and scholarships—is $12,751. For families in the $48,001–$75,000 band, it is $14,699, and for families earning over $110,000, it is $22,346. The spread between the lowest and highest bands is $9,595. Azimuth ranks the university #496 for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Aid covers about 34% of the published cost for the average aid recipient, an offset of $8,950 against the sticker price. The average net price across all aid recipients is $17,747, which sits above the peer median of $15,634 for comparable institutions (same type and size) by $2,113. Out-of-state students face a higher published tuition of $28,584. Among federal-loan borrowers who completed, the median federal student debt is $21,000. That median is above the peer median of $20,076 for comparable institutions by $924, and 86.4% of federal aid recipients borrow federal loans. The median [Parent PLUS](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) borrowing is $25,798. The median federal debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $239 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**$14,699** After grants and scholarships. Your aid offer may differ. Averages within each income band; individual aid packages vary. ### Borrowing and repayment at University of Nebraska-Lincoln About 86.4% of federal aid recipients at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln take federal loans. Among borrowers who complete a degree, the median federal student debt is $21,000. That median is above the $20,076 median for comparable institutions (same type and size) by $924, placing a typical borrower's federal obligation close to the peer benchmark. Parent borrowers are a separate population, and the median [Parent PLUS](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) loan at the university is $25,798. Four years after completion, graduates of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln earn a median of $62,769, which places the university in the 59th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $671 more than the model expects for similar students, effectively at the expected level, a result in the 57th percentile nationally. Earnings scenarios from the university's program mix show a typical earnings level that matches the observed median, with a downside scenario of $47,933 and an upside scenario of $89,021. Borrowers finish with a median federal debt of $21,000, which is above the $20,076 median for comparable institutions (same type and size). That debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $239 a month if repaid over ten years. The return picture is mixed: earnings beat the model's expectation but sit below the median for comparable institutions, which is $65,610. Median [Parent PLUS](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) borrowing, a separate parent-borrower population, is $25,798. The estimated monthly student payment if repaid over ten years is $239. [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** $21,000 **Institution Parent PLUS debt** $25,798 Federal loans only; private or institutional loans aren’t included. **Estimated student payment · monthly** $239/mo **Estimated Parent PLUS payment · monthly** $328/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=university-of-nebraska-lincoln#student-tool) [Read the full cost & aid brief](/school/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/cost/) 02 / University of Nebraska-Lincoln briefing ## [University of Nebraska-Lincoln career outcomes & earnings](/school/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/outcomes/)[\[3\]](#hub-data-note-earnings)[\[8\]](#hub-data-note-scenarios)[\[9\]](#hub-data-note-value-added) The strongest pillar at University of Nebraska-Lincoln is mobility, not return, and the earnings picture reflects that. Azimuth places the return pillar in the 65th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Four years after completion, completers earn a median of $62,769, which sits below the peer median of $65,610 for comparable institutions (same type and size) by $2,841. Graduates earn about $671 more than the model expects for similar students, effectively at the expected level, a result in the 57th percentile. The part the model attributes to the factors it measures (field of study, enrollment and the local labor market) adds $9,795. The part it attributes to a remainder it does not explain subtracts $9,124. Within the measured factors, the STEM component adds $2,391. The median earnings figure lands in the 59th percentile nationally, while the institution's own contribution to the earnings-beyond-expectations gap subtracts from the outcome even as the program mix adds. The net result is earnings that are effectively at the level the model expects. Four years after completing a degree at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the median earnings for the 4,543 graduates in the cohort stand at $62,769. That figure runs below the median of $65,610 for comparable institutions (same type and size) by $2,841, placing the university in the 59th percentile nationally. Graduates earn about $671 more than the model expects for similar students, effectively at the expected level. Earnings scenarios, which are anchored on the university's program mix, show a typical outcome at the same level, with a downside scenario of $47,933 and an upside scenario reaching $89,021. An estimated 27.3% of graduates continue to graduate study, a figure estimated from the program mix. Four years after completion, graduates of University of Nebraska-Lincoln earn a median of $62,769, which places the university in the 59th percentile nationally. That figure is below the peer median of $65,610 for comparable institutions (same type and size) by $2,841. Graduates earn about $671 more than the model expects for similar students, effectively at the expected level, a result in the 57th percentile. The part the model attributes to the factors it measures (field of study, enrollment and the local labor market) adds $9,795. The part it attributes to a remainder it does not explain subtracts $9,124. Within the measured factors, the STEM component adds $2,391. [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) the university #507 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Earnings scenarios grounded in the program mix show a downside of $47,933 and an upside of $89,021. The highest-earning program, Computer and Information Sciences, shows a median of $116,221 four years after completion with 93 degrees awarded, and Azimuth ranks it #34 nationally in its field. That program earns 1.26x the national median for the field. The largest program, Business Administration and Management, awarded 324 degrees and its completers earn a median of $67,918, ranking #154 nationally. Finance, with 226 degrees awarded, shows a median of $77,504 and a national rank of #84. The university's strongest national rank belongs to Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services at #4, with 163 degrees awarded and a median of $61,092. Earnings four years after completion vary widely by field at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The earnings scenarios, which are anchored on the university's program mix, run from a downside of $47,933 to an upside of $89,021, with the typical scenario at $62,769. That spread reflects the range of outcomes across the 55 programs with published data. The highest-earning programs show the upper end of that range: Computer and Information Sciences completers earn a median of $116,221, Computer Engineering graduates reach $103,934, and Electrical Engineering completers earn $100,972. The value question at University of Nebraska-Lincoln turns on whether a degree that earns roughly what the model expects can be had without heavy debt. The answer is mixed. The average net price, what aid recipients pay after grants and scholarships, is $17,747. That runs above the median for comparable institutions (same type and size). Net prices by income band are averages within those bands: the lowest band averages $12,751, rising to $22,346 for the highest band, a spread of $9,595. Borrowers who finish leave with a median of $21,000 in federal student loans, which is $924 above the peer median. If repaid over ten years, that debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $239 a month. Parents who borrow hold a separate median of $25,798. What explains value-added earnings? **Program & institutional factors The part attributed to observed institutional characteristics.** +$9,795 **Unexplained remainder What remains after the model’s observed factors.** \-$9,124 **Total modeled value added The modeled difference from expected earnings.** +$671 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/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/outcomes/) 03 / University of Nebraska-Lincoln briefing ## [University of Nebraska-Lincoln acceptance rate & admissions](/school/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/admissions/)[\[1\]](#hub-data-note-admission)[\[10\]](#hub-data-note-sat)[\[11\]](#hub-data-note-retention) The University of Nebraska-Lincoln admits 87.5% of applicants, a rate that sits above the median of 78.1% for comparable institutions (same type and size). This means most students who apply find a place. SAT: approximate enrolled-student range **Admission rate** 87.5% **Approximate lower endpoint** 1098 **Reported average** 1191 **Approximate upper endpoint** 1330 Enrolled students who submitted scores. This range is not an admission cutoff. The endpoints add section percentiles; they are not verified composite-score percentiles. A separate SAT-equivalent average is not plotted as a median. Source: College Scorecard; sum of section 25th/75th percentiles; enrolled score-submitters. [Read the full admissions brief](/school/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/admissions/) 04 / University of Nebraska-Lincoln briefing ## [What are the largest majors at University of Nebraska-Lincoln?](/school/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/majors/)[\[12\]](#hub-data-note-programs) The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's strongest earnings outcomes cluster in technical fields, while several of its largest programs sit closer to the national median for their field. Computer and Information Sciences leads with a median of $116,221 four years after completion and an Azimuth national rank of #34, alongside 93 degrees awarded. Computer Engineering follows at $103,934 with 83 degrees awarded. Among the largest programs, Finance reaches $77,504 and ranks #84 nationally on 226 degrees awarded. Business Administration and Management, the largest program with 324 degrees awarded, shows a median of $67,918 and a national rank of #154. Psychology earns $49,965 and ranks #188 nationally on 237 degrees awarded, illustrating the spread between higher- and moderate-earning fields at the university. University of Nebraska-Lincoln publishes earnings data for 55 bachelor's programs, 47 of which hold an Azimuth national rank. The largest program, Business Administration and Management, awarded 324 degrees. Its completers show a median of $67,918 four years after completion, ranking #154 nationally and #1 in Nebraska. Several programs hold top-forty national ranks. Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services ranks #4, awards 163 degrees, and reports a median of $61,092. Biological/Biosystems Engineering ranks #5 nationally, awards 46 degrees, and reports a median of $76,741. Agricultural Mechanization ranks #5 nationally, awards 22 degrees, and reports a median of $74,003. Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies ranks #9 nationally, awards 141 degrees, and shows a median of $48,305. Business accounts for 23.2% of bachelor's degrees awarded at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, with Engineering next at 11.0% and Agriculture & Natural Resources at 9.3%. The university has 47 programs with an Azimuth national rank and 55 with published four-year earnings data. The largest single programs are Business Administration and Management at 324 degrees awarded, Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at 239, and Psychology at 237. The highest-ranked program is Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services, with 163 degrees awarded, median earnings of $61,092 four years after completion, and a state rank of #1 in Nebraska. Biological/Biosystems Engineering ranks #5 nationally and #1 in Nebraska, with 46 degrees awarded and median earnings of $76,741. Agricultural Mechanization ranks #5 nationally and #1 in Nebraska, with 22 degrees awarded and median earnings of $74,003. The highest-earning program is Computer and Information Sciences, where graduates earn $116,221 four years out, a benchmark ratio of 1.26x against the national median for its field. The pattern is one of strength spread across several fields rather than concentrated in a single area. The largest program, Business Administration and Management, earns $67,918 and ranks #154 nationally, while the highest-earning program, Computer and Information Sciences, awards 93 degrees a year. Several programs with strong state and national ranks sit outside the largest departments, including Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services and Biological/Biosystems Engineering. Across all fields, 24.5% of degrees awarded are in STEM. Four-year earnings · six largest reported fields **Business Administration, Management and Operations 324 degrees awarded** $67,918 **Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication 239 degrees awarded** $61,145 **Psychology, General 237 degrees awarded** $49,965 **Finance and Financial Management Services 226 degrees awarded** $77,504 **Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services 163 degrees awarded** $61,092 **Marketing 150 degrees awarded** $74,165 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/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/majors/) 05 / University of Nebraska-Lincoln briefing ## How does University of Nebraska-Lincoln serve students from different backgrounds? The strongest pillar at University of Nebraska-Lincoln is mobility, where Azimuth places the university in the 88th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. The [six-year graduation rate](/analysis/what-the-graduation-rate-doesnt-count/) for the first-time full-time cohort is 67.0%, while Pell recipients complete at a rate of 57.8%, a figure that sits below the overall rate by 9.2 percentage points. Graduates earn about $671 more than the model expects for similar students, effectively at the expected level, a result that sits in the 57th percentile. A Pell completion rate that trails the overall rate, combined with near-expected earnings, shapes the mobility picture. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln enrolls 19,178 undergraduates and admits 87.5% of applicants, a rate above the peer median of 78.1%—the middle value for comparable institutions. Pell Grant recipients make up 22.8% of the undergraduate body, and an estimated 14.2% of students enter as transfers or part-time students. Azimuth places the access pillar in the 64th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. 06 / University of Nebraska-Lincoln briefing ## [What colleges are similar to University of Nebraska-Lincoln?](/school/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/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/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/similar/#peer-matching). ### A shortlist for different decisions Choose a row to compare the figures with University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Admissions peerNebraska Wesleyan University79.8% admitted+ Comparison with University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Measure | University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Nebraska Wesleyan University | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $62,769 | $61,753\-$1,016 vs University of Nebraska-Lincoln | | Average annual net price | $17,747 | $18,327+$580 vs University of Nebraska-Lincoln · higher cost | | Admission rate | 87.5% | 79.8% | Higher-admission alternativeDoane University98.0% admitted+ Comparison with University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Measure | University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Doane University | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $62,769 | $58,227\-$4,542 vs University of Nebraska-Lincoln | | Average annual net price | $17,747 | $26,364+$8,617 vs University of Nebraska-Lincoln · higher cost | | Admission rate | 87.5% | 98.0% | Nearby alternativeUniversity of Nebraska at OmahaNearby option · NE+ Comparison with University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Measure | University of Nebraska-Lincoln | University of Nebraska at Omaha | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $62,769 | $60,448\-$2,321 vs University of Nebraska-Lincoln | | Average annual net price | $17,747 | $13,441\-$4,306 vs University of Nebraska-Lincoln · lower cost | | Admission rate | 87.5% | 87.0% | [Explore University of Nebraska at Omaha →](/school/university-of-nebraska-at-omaha/) Higher-earnings alternativeUniversity of Massachusetts-Lowell$81,163 earnings+ Comparison with University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Measure | University of Nebraska-Lincoln | University of Massachusetts-Lowell | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $62,769 | $81,163+$18,394 vs University of Nebraska-Lincoln | | Average annual net price | $17,747 | $17,163\-$584 vs University of Nebraska-Lincoln · lower cost | | Admission rate | 87.5% | 83.0% | [Explore University of Massachusetts-Lowell →](/school/university-of-massachusetts-lowell/) Lower-cost alternativeUniversity of Nebraska at Omaha$13,441 average net price+ Comparison with University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Measure | University of Nebraska-Lincoln | University of Nebraska at Omaha | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $62,769 | $60,448\-$2,321 vs University of Nebraska-Lincoln | | Average annual net price | $17,747 | $13,441\-$4,306 vs University of Nebraska-Lincoln · lower cost | | Admission rate | 87.5% | 87.0% | [Explore University of Nebraska at Omaha →](/school/university-of-nebraska-at-omaha/) Similar profileIllinois State UniversityMatched across several measures+ Comparison with University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Measure | University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Illinois State University | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $62,769 | $62,507\-$262 vs University of Nebraska-Lincoln | | Average annual net price | $17,747 | $19,398+$1,651 vs University of Nebraska-Lincoln · higher cost | | Admission rate | 87.5% | 88.2% | [Explore Illinois State University →](/school/illinois-state-university/) 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/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/similar/) ## Data scope & methodology Structured payloads generated September 27, 2026 · Governed hub narrative September 27, 2026 · Governed spoke corpus September 27, 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/)