College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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ATA College

Louisville, KY 363 Undergrads 36.1% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$31,920
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$28,611
After Aid
Median Earnings
$40,854
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$28,611
Peer Midpoint: $9,847
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$40,854
Peer Midpoint: $50,127.5
Graduation Rate36.1%
Peer Midpoint: 34.6%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients83.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time100.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS49.9%

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
+$441k
-$74k
-$43k
Median Cost$29k/yr
+$389k
-$127k
-$96k
Full Cost$32k/yr
+$383k
-$133k
-$102k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$29k/yr
Never
-182%
Full Cost$32k/yr
Never
-173%
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 Return-218%

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 Return-106%
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
$13,583
Earnings (4yr)
$34,110
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
CertCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$35,593
Natl Median: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$36,583
Natl Median: $38,675
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$12,667
Earnings (4yr)
$36,748
Natl Median: $33,673
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
CertCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$17,083
Earnings (4yr)
$42,551
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
$22,917
Earnings (4yr)
$56,505
Natl Median: $56,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$134k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
CertCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,020
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services
CertCIP: 5135
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $29,652
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$39,009
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$23,375
Earnings (4yr)
$39,727
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
AssocCIP: 1109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,971
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$30,526
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$201k
Human Resources Management and Services
AssocCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Legal Support Services
AssocCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
AssocCIP: 5139
Median Debt
$24,959
Earnings (4yr)
$57,073
Natl Median: $62,755
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (4yr)
$82,629
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$297k

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.