University of Guam — ROI, Cost & Payback
University of Guam charges a net price of $8,598/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $34,392. Median earnings ten years after entry are $35,946, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, University of Guam does not clear its cost — it ranks #1 of 2 GU colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $8,598/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $34,392 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $35,946 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$12,414/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $16,786 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$282,672 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on University of Guam's own numbers. Net price $8,598 × 4 years = $34,392 total. Median earnings $35,946 fall $12,414 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $34,392 bill in about 3.4 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do University of Guam students graduate with?
A median $16,786 in federal loans among completers, or 47% of the $35,946 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of University of Guam students graduate?
37% finish their degree — 63% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $34,392 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $92,951 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is University of Guam expensive compared with other GU colleges?
Its $8,598 net price runs $2,246 above the $6,352 median across the 2 GU colleges we profile, or $8,984 more across the full degree.