College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Central Maine Community College

Auburn, ME 2,828 Undergrads 33.7% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$15,160
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$7,489
After Aid
Median Earnings
$42,448
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$7,489
Peer Midpoint: $9,014
Earnings (10yr)$42,448
Peer Midpoint: $40,397
Graduation Rate33.7%
Peer Midpoint: 32.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients51.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time58.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS53.2%

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
+$425k
+$36k
-$60k
Median Cost$7k/yr
+$411k
+$22k
-$73k
Full Cost$15k/yr
+$397k
+$8k
-$87k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$7k/yr
Never
-534%
Full Cost$15k/yr
Never
-314%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year 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-455%

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-135%
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

Health and Medical Administrative Services
CertCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$39,761
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k

Associate's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
AssocCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$35,712
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$12,800
Earnings (5yr)
$37,779
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
AssocCIP: 1110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,727
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$9,378
Earnings (5yr)
$58,787
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k
Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,119
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Human Services, General
AssocCIP: 4400
Median Debt
$18,250
Earnings (5yr)
$37,181
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$13,537
Earnings (5yr)
$40,041
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Precision Metal Working
AssocCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,136
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$19,150
Earnings (5yr)
$71,277
Lifetime Value Added
+$221k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
AssocCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$35,493
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$11,500
Earnings (5yr)
$58,739
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, 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 should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.