College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Austin Community College District

Austin, TX 30,189 Undergrads 16.1% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$15,190
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$6,390
After Aid
Median Earnings
$57,624
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$6,390
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$57,624
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Warning: This school's reported earnings inflated significantly (+33%) when the Dept of Education excluded non-graduates from the dataset. Take caution when comparing.
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$43,177
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate16.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age24.6
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients32.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time32.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS63.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$517k
+$50k
+$32k
Median Cost$6k/yr
+$494k
+$27k
+$9k
Full Cost$15k/yr
+$462k
-$5k
-$23k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
42
∞
Median Cost$6k/yr
55
40%
Full Cost$15k/yr
Never
-41%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return36%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-25%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$90,270
Natl Median: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
+$487k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$9,625
Earnings (4yr)
$72,051
Natl Median: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
+$310k
Median Debt
$10,127
Earnings (4yr)
$40,131
Natl Median: $41,771
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,223
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,658
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,975
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$231k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,681
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Carpenters
CertCIP: 4602
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,835
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$58,221
Natl Median: $56,556
Lifetime Value Added
+$196k
Median Debt
$12,999
Earnings (4yr)
$56,520
Natl Median: $50,162
Lifetime Value Added
+$155k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,828
Natl Median: $57,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$288k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $30,572
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,116
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,775
Natl Median: $53,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$178k
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,492
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,447
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,997
Natl Median: $45,268
Lifetime Value Added
+$251k
Fire Protection
CertCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,664
Natl Median: $62,436
Lifetime Value Added
+$238k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,130
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,962
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $31,135
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,747
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,907
Natl Median: $44,906
Lifetime Value Added
+$190k
Marketing
CertCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,757
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,365
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$8,462
Earnings (4yr)
$69,017
Natl Median: $56,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$280k
Median Debt
$15,721
Earnings (4yr)
$46,613
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4704
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,900
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Real Estate
CertCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,762
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,385
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,975
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)
$55,045
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
+$139k
Woodworking
CertCIP: 4807
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,664
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,993
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$188k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,245
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,381
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$75,034
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$270k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,585
Natl Median: $37,886
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k
Anthropology
AssocCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,638
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
AssocCIP: 5010
Median Debt
$10,500
Earnings (4yr)
$47,134
Natl Median: $35,370
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,660
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
AssocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$7,875
Earnings (4yr)
$54,363
Natl Median: $44,758
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$40,095
Natl Median: $51,168
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,133
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,587
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$9,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,664
Natl Median: $49,927
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
Carpenters
AssocCIP: 4602
Median Debt
$13,750
Earnings (4yr)
$61,533
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
+$147k
Chemistry
AssocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,787
Natl Median: $51,597
Lifetime Value Added
+$140k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,744
Natl Median: $57,472
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k
Median Debt
$7,348
Earnings (4yr)
$77,248
Natl Median: $54,246
Lifetime Value Added
+$289k
Computer Programming
AssocCIP: 1102
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$64,773
Natl Median: $58,070
Lifetime Value Added
+$177k
Median Debt
$10,550
Earnings (4yr)
$68,934
Natl Median: $54,971
Lifetime Value Added
+$215k
Median Debt
$12,184
Earnings (4yr)
$45,940
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$38,732
Natl Median: $39,605
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Dance
AssocCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $30,547
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,867
Natl Median: $61,982
Lifetime Value Added
+$241k
Median Debt
$19,939
Earnings (4yr)
$41,552
Natl Median: $38,127
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,475
Natl Median: $55,895
Lifetime Value Added
+$183k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $31,773
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,764
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
AssocCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,068
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$88,365
Natl Median: $67,792
Lifetime Value Added
+$389k
Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,570
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, General
AssocCIP: 1401
Median Debt
$7,113
Earnings (4yr)
$88,366
Natl Median: $72,916
Lifetime Value Added
+$389k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$26,316
Natl Median: $36,134
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$67,712
Natl Median: $55,148
Lifetime Value Added
+$204k
Fine and Studio Arts
AssocCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$36,991
Natl Median: $31,650
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Fire Protection
AssocCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,589
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,052
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,694
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,152
Natl Median: $36,221
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,838
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,373
Natl Median: $51,711
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
History
AssocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,008
Natl Median: $38,929
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
Median Debt
$12,250
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,099
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,052
Natl Median: $39,422
Lifetime Value Added
-$249k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,207
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
AssocCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,356
Natl Median: $41,496
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,598
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
+$119k
Median Debt
$9,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,802
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
Marketing
AssocCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,264
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
AssocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,891
Natl Median: $59,929
Lifetime Value Added
+$268k
Median Debt
$19,405
Earnings (4yr)
$46,962
Natl Median: $40,734
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,491
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
AssocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,056
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,634
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
AssocCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,229
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physical Sciences, General
AssocCIP: 4001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,076
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
AssocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,321
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,495
Natl Median: $45,147
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,185
Natl Median: $56,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$217k
Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4704
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,353
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
AssocCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$9,000
Earnings (4yr)
$40,744
Natl Median: $39,288
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Median Debt
$9,250
Earnings (4yr)
$37,248
Natl Median: $36,074
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Real Estate
AssocCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,327
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,162
Earnings (4yr)
$83,989
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$350k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,854
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$10,105
Earnings (4yr)
$50,539
Natl Median: $38,641
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
Median Debt
$7,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,333
Natl Median: $40,755
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Social Work
AssocCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$12,705
Earnings (4yr)
$50,662
Natl Median: $39,409
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Sociology
AssocCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,144
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
AssocCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$9,750
Earnings (4yr)
$48,357
Natl Median: $40,162
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Median Debt
$10,450
Earnings (4yr)
$51,880
Natl Median: $37,656
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,702
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,174
Natl Median: $58,424
Lifetime Value Added
+$172k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,460
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,799
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,933
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,292
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
DegCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,021
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,426
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,047
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,638
Natl Median: $50,308
Lifetime Value Added
-$287k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,763
Natl Median: $55,614
Lifetime Value Added
-$270k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,652
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,327
Natl Median: $53,735
Lifetime Value Added
-$233k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,430
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,088
Natl Median: $56,308
Lifetime Value Added
-$267k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
DegCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,020
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

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 decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.