College ROI

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Central Piedmont Community College

Charlotte, NC 15,067 Undergrads 24.0% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$10,546
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$3,345
After Aid
Median Earnings
$48,441
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$3,345
Peer Midpoint: $9,847
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$48,441
Peer Midpoint: $50,128
Warning: This school's reported earnings inflated significantly (+28%) when the Dept of Education excluded non-graduates from the dataset. Take caution when comparing.
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$37,865
Peer Midpoint: $40,451
Graduation Rate24.0%
Peer Midpoint: 34.6%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age24.5
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 Recipients37.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time41.6%
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
Assuming 2 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
+$1k
+$33k
Median Cost$3k/yr
+$511k
-$5k
+$27k
Full Cost$11k/yr
+$498k
-$18k
+$13k

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
34
∞
Median Cost$3k/yr
37
432%
Full Cost$11k/yr
46
69%
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 Return255%

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 Return37%
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)
$44,023
Natl Median: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$38,607
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,771
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,214
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,223
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,770
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,376
Natl Median: $32,681
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $38,675
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,412
Natl Median: $50,984
Lifetime Value Added
+$208k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $26,307
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,147
Natl Median: $57,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$35,809
Natl Median: $33,673
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,933
Natl Median: $36,116
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,094
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,078
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,796
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,447
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other
CertCIP: 1599
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,931
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fire Protection
CertCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,436
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: $48,148
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,199
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $31,135
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,167
Natl Median: $49,747
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,615
Natl Median: $44,906
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$36,301
Natl Median: $65,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,024
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,006
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$36,697
Natl Median: $43,365
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,963
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $38,061
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,989
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,385
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
CertCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$33,718
Natl Median: $34,631
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$37,027
Natl Median: $24,479
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,919
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
Woodworking
CertCIP: 4807
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,664
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$38,809
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,210
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,004
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$266k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,886
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,060
Natl Median: $45,283
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,660
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,413
Natl Median: $59,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$243k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,216
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,519
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,472
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,094
Natl Median: $54,246
Lifetime Value Added
+$222k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,195
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$26,550
Natl Median: $27,014
Lifetime Value Added
-$195k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,331
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$34,705
Natl Median: $39,605
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,072
Natl Median: $61,982
Lifetime Value Added
+$139k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,967
Natl Median: $38,127
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,792
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,046
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,388
Natl Median: $72,916
Lifetime Value Added
+$287k
Fire Protection
AssocCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,589
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,221
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,911
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $58,236
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $41,099
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,820
Natl Median: $54,425
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,799
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,207
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,452
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,205
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Marketing
AssocCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,170
Natl Median: $44,264
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,773
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,254
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$38,741
Natl Median: $40,734
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,692
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,724
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,400
Natl Median: $56,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,379
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$269k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,153
Natl Median: $37,656
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,210
Natl Median: $58,424
Lifetime Value Added
+$159k

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,292
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $24,824
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,121
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.