University of Memphis — ROI, Cost & Payback
University of Memphis charges a net price of $12,397/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $49,588. Graduates earn a median $48,458 ten years after entry, $98/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 506 years — a 20-year net return of -$47,628, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
University of Memphis's 506-year payback ranks #1,269 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 1% of them, and #21 of 91 in Tennessee.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $12,397/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $49,588 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $48,458 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $98/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $23,300 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 506 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$47,628 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on University of Memphis's own numbers. Net price $12,397 × 4 years = $49,588 total. Median earnings $48,458 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $98 a year of premium. $49,588 ÷ $98 = 506 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$47,628. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do University of Memphis students graduate with?
A median $23,300 in federal loans among completers, or 48% of the $48,458 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of University of Memphis students graduate?
51% finish their degree — 49% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $49,588 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $97,231 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is University of Memphis expensive compared with other Tennessee colleges?
Its $12,397 net price runs $2,872 below the $15,269 median across the 91 Tennessee colleges we profile, and $11,488 less across the full degree.