College ROI

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CET-San Jose

San Jose, CA 266 Undergrads 79.6% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$24,566
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,101
After Aid
Median Earnings
$40,676
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$16,101
Peer Midpoint: $17,334
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$40,676
Peer Midpoint: $34,461
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$32,986
Peer Midpoint: $31,599
Graduation Rate79.6%
Peer Midpoint: 68.7%
Average Starting Age29.5
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 Recipients45.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time100.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS54.7%

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)
⚠️ 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
+$476k
+$84k
-$8k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$461k
+$69k
-$23k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$453k
+$62k
-$31k

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
Never
-∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
Never
-156%
Full Cost$25k/yr
Never
-137%
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 Return-149%

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 Return-85%
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
⚠️ 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

Accounting and Related Services
CertCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$24,317
Natl Median: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
-$205k
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
CertCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$6,246
Earnings (4yr)
$37,870
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection
CertCIP: 4604
Median Debt
$6,323
Earnings (4yr)
$39,229
Natl Median: $42,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
CertCIP: 5204
Median Debt
$5,865
Earnings (4yr)
$31,548
Natl Median: $32,681
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Construction Trades, Other
CertCIP: 4699
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,898
Natl Median: $46,777
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Culinary Arts and Related Services
CertCIP: 1205
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$30,352
Natl Median: $30,572
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
CertCIP: 4603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $54,485
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4701
Median Debt
$8,347
Earnings (4yr)
$52,850
Natl Median: $43,027
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations
CertCIP: 5218
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$25,550
Natl Median: $52,001
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k
Ground Transportation
CertCIP: 4902
Median Debt
$6,650
Earnings (4yr)
$50,652
Natl Median: $52,118
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
CertCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$5,717
Earnings (4yr)
$37,244
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)
CertCIP: 4702
Median Debt
$6,160
Earnings (4yr)
$45,411
Natl Median: $48,148
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
Housing and Human Environments
CertCIP: 1906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$35,492
Natl Median: $36,607
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
CertCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$35,597
Natl Median: $31,135
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
$8,500
Earnings (4yr)
$47,291
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services
CertCIP: 5135
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $29,652
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$7,251
Earnings (4yr)
$42,242
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k

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. 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.