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Central Piedmont Community College
Charlotte, NC 13,640 Undergrads 22.8% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$10,951
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$3,660
After Aid
Median Earnings
$37,865
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$3,660
Peer Midpoint: $9,014
Earnings (10yr)$37,865
Peer Midpoint: $40,397
Graduation Rate22.8%
Peer Midpoint: 32.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients37.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time39.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS53.6%
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
+$382k
-$7k
-$103k
Median Cost$4k/yr
+$375k
-$14k
-$109k
Full Cost$11k/yr
+$362k
-$27k
-$123k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$4k/yr
Never
-1627%
Full Cost$11k/yr
Never
-610%
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-975%
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-227%
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
Business Administration, Management and Operations
CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,628
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
CertCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$172k
Legal Support Services
CertCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,167
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
CertCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,615
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Management Information Systems and Services
CertCIP: 5212
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,953
Lifetime Value Added
+$109k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$36,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Teaching Assistants/Aides
CertCIP: 1315
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$37,027
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Associate's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
AssocCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$38,461
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,515
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,950
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services
AssocCIP: 0106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,060
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,380
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
AssocCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,334
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
AssocCIP: 1204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$29,690
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,524
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
Culinary Arts and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1205
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$30,521
Lifetime Value Added
-$161k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,661
Lifetime Value Added
+$123k
Design and Applied Arts
AssocCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$32,514
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$39,541
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)
AssocCIP: 4702
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Hospitality Administration/Management
AssocCIP: 5209
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
Human Resources Management and Services
AssocCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,820
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k
Legal Support Services
AssocCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,630
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,141
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Marketing
AssocCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,170
Lifetime Value Added
+$1k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$36,906
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Precision Metal Working
AssocCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,610
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,816
Lifetime Value Added
+$215k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
AssocCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$34,465
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,806
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
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.