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Arapahoe Community College
Littleton, CO 5,383 Undergrads 26.1% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$18,332
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$11,571
After Aid
Median Earnings
$57,589
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$11,571
Peer Midpoint: $17,333.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$57,589
Peer Midpoint: $34,461
Graduation Rate26.1%
Peer Midpoint: 68.7%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients24.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time33.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS69.2%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$656k
+$265k
+$172k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$645k
+$254k
+$161k
Full Cost$18k/yr
+$639k
+$248k
+$155k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
21
∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
22
1500%
Full Cost$18k/yr
23
910%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return1868%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return380%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Certificates
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
CertCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
CertCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,662
Natl Median: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
+$233k
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,214
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection
CertCIP: 4604
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $38,675
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer and Information Sciences, General
CertCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
CertCIP: 1109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,162
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
CertCIP: 1204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $26,307
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections
CertCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,108
Natl Median: $57,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$227k
Design and Applied Arts
CertCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,116
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations
CertCIP: 5218
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,001
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
CertCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,863
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
CertCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$10,500
Earnings (4yr)
$39,736
Natl Median: $31,135
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Legal Support Services
CertCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,974
Natl Median: $49,747
Lifetime Value Added
+$123k
Music
CertCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,318
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
$8,750
Earnings (4yr)
$58,888
Natl Median: $56,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$174k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
CertCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,020
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
CertCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,280
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Associate's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
AssocCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,087
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,165
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection
AssocCIP: 4604
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,378
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,975
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5110
Median Debt
$9,500
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,472
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer and Information Sciences, General
AssocCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,635
Natl Median: $54,246
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
AssocCIP: 1109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,287
Natl Median: $54,971
Lifetime Value Added
+$244k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,984
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
Design and Applied Arts
AssocCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$15,125
Earnings (4yr)
$44,888
Natl Median: $38,127
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,792
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science
AssocCIP: 1203
Median Debt
$15,485
Earnings (4yr)
$54,411
Natl Median: $52,962
Lifetime Value Added
+$70k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$18,988
Earnings (4yr)
$60,817
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
Journalism
AssocCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,496
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Legal Support Services
AssocCIP: 2203
Median Debt
$10,250
Earnings (4yr)
$53,181
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$13,750
Earnings (4yr)
$48,756
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1508
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,773
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
AssocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,056
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$18,250
Earnings (4yr)
$83,150
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$333k
Science Technologies/Technicians, Other
AssocCIP: 4199
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,780
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
AssocCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,162
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,131
Natl Median: $58,424
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.