College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Butte County Regional Occupational Program

Chico, CA 41 Undergrads 82.6% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$18,289
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$10,237
After Aid
Median Earnings
$36,740
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$10,237
Peer Midpoint: $17,726
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$36,740
Peer Midpoint: $36,184
Graduation Rate82.6%
Peer Midpoint: 69.9%
Average Starting Age24.1
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients39.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time73.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS79.2%

Admissions Profile

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

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 1 Year 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)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$427k
+$22k
-$60k
Median Cost$10k/yr
+$417k
+$13k
-$69k
Full Cost$18k/yr
+$410k
+$6k
-$77k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$10k/yr
Never
-729%
Full Cost$18k/yr
Never
-452%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
  • 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-727%

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-192%

Program ROI Analysis

These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$33,691
Natl Median: $33,673
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$29,395
Natl Median: $34,862
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k

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.