Cleveland, OH · Private University
Is Case Western Reserve Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$87,989
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$64,671
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$64,671
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$258,684
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
1.36x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
4.9 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
87.0%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$24,000
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$38,909
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
Case Western Reserve University graduates earn $42,989 more than the national median of workers with any education level.
What You'd Actually Pay
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income
Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.
Highest-Earning Majors
Top programs at Case Western Reserve University ranked by graduate earnings
76 graduates
34 graduates
39 graduates
34 graduates
67 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at Case Western Reserve University
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings — your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At Case Western Reserve University, the gap between the highest-earning major (Computer Science: $103,989) and the lowest (Cognitive Science: $30,198) is $73,791/yr — bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Computer ScienceBest ROI | $103,989 | 1.6x |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $91,504 | 1.4x |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $88,056 | 1.4x |
| Chemical Engineering | $83,342 | 1.3x |
| Mechanical Engineering | $82,466 | 1.3x |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $79,428 | 1.2x |
| Accounting and Related Services | $78,857 | 1.2x |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $77,380 | 1.2x |
| Civil Engineering(1yr data) | $74,266 | 1.1x |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $65,924 | 1.0x |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $64,824 | 1.0x |
| Economics | $64,148 | 1.0x |
| Biology, General | $47,902 | 0.7x |
| Marketing(1yr data) | $45,251 | 0.7x |
| Psychology, General | $38,468 | 0.6x |
| Cognitive ScienceLowest(1yr data) | $30,198 | 0.5x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
How It Compares
ROI at similar schools
| School | ROI Ratio | Earnings | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Western Reserve University | 1.36x | $87,989 | Average ROI |
| University of Rochester | 1.23x | $79,042 | Average ROI |
| Villanova University | 1.55x | $100,423 | Good ROI |
| Lafayette College | 1.46x | $91,410 | Average ROI |
| Brandeis University | 1.19x | $77,231 | Average ROI |
| University of Richmond | 1.22x | $76,178 | Average ROI |
The Bottom Line
Case Western Reserve University delivers returns in line with the national college average. Graduates earn $87,989 10 years after starting — $42,989 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 4.9 years — faster than most colleges.
Ready to apply to Case Western Reserve University?
See your odds of admission based on your GPA and test scores.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.