College ROI

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Central Piedmont Community College

Charlotte, NC 15,067 Undergrads 22.0% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$11,351
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$1,741
After Aid
Median Earnings
$49,819
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$1,741
Peer Midpoint: $9,956
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$49,819
Peer Midpoint: $51,775
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$43,413
Peer Midpoint: $45,130
Graduation Rate22.0%
Peer Midpoint: 35.7%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average starting age (2015-17)24.5
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients31.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time41.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS55.1%

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)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$523k
-$706
+$37k
Median Cost$2k/yr
+$520k
-$4k
+$34k
Full Cost$11k/yr
+$502k
-$22k
+$16k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
34
∞
Median Cost$2k/yr
35
1052%
Full Cost$11k/yr
44
77%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.⚠️ 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

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 Return265%

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 Return33%

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)
$44,023
Natl Median: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$38,607
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
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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
+$13k
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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
+$211k
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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
+$71k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$35,809
Natl Median: $33,673
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,933
Natl Median: $36,116
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
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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
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)
$60,898
Natl Median: $49,747
Lifetime Value Added
+$193k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,906
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$36,301
Natl Median: $65,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
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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
-$54k
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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
-$18k
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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
-$87k
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Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,919
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
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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
-$67k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,210
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,004
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$272k
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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
-$91k
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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
+$248k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,216
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
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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
+$227k
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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
-$193k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,331
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$34,705
Natl Median: $39,605
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,072
Natl Median: $61,982
Lifetime Value Added
+$143k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,967
Natl Median: $38,127
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
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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
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
+$293k
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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
-$36k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $58,236
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $41,099
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,452
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,205
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
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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
-$68k
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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
+$79k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,379
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$275k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,153
Natl Median: $37,656
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
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Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,210
Natl Median: $58,424
Lifetime Value Added
+$163k
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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.