College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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California Aeronautical University

Bakersfield, CA 347 Undergrads 40.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$46,233
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$36,126
After Aid
Median Earnings
$47,702
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$36,126
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$47,702
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate40.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients47.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time100.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS64.9%

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
+$434k
-$33k
-$50k
Median Cost$36k/yr
+$304k
-$163k
-$180k
Full Cost$46k/yr
+$268k
-$199k
-$216k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$36k/yr
Never
-139%
Full Cost$46k/yr
Never
-130%
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-141%

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-97%
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
Health and Medical Administrative Services
CertCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)
CertCIP: 4702
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,148
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
AssocCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,657
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
Air Transportation
AssocCIP: 4901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,495
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$37,739
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
AssocCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,246
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,055
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Legal Support Services
AssocCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,848
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k

Bachelor's Degrees

Air Transportation
BachCIP: 4901
Median Debt
$28,931
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,825
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,905
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,206
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,428
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$199k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,485
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 degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.