College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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CET-San Jose

San Jose, CA 175 Undergrads 65.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$21,117
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$15,045
After Aid
Median Earnings
$32,986
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$15,045
Peer Midpoint: $16,832
Earnings (10yr)$32,986
Peer Midpoint: $31,349
Graduation Rate65.4%
Peer Midpoint: 66.3%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients39.8%
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)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$357k
+$32k
-$128k
Median Cost$15k/yr
+$343k
+$18k
-$142k
Full Cost$21k/yr
+$337k
+$13k
-$147k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$15k/yr
Never
-1014%
Full Cost$21k/yr
Never
-751%
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-1285%

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-304%
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

Accounting and Related Services
CertCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$23,660
Lifetime Value Added
-$216k
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
CertCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$6,246
Earnings (5yr)
$33,140
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection
CertCIP: 4604
Median Debt
$6,323
Earnings (5yr)
$32,178
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
CertCIP: 5204
Median Debt
$5,865
Earnings (5yr)
$27,178
Lifetime Value Added
-$178k
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1512
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$13,702
Lifetime Value Added
-$318k
Culinary Arts and Related Services
CertCIP: 1205
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$30,352
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
CertCIP: 4603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technology
CertCIP: 4701
Median Debt
$8,347
Earnings (5yr)
$58,350
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations
CertCIP: 5218
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$25,447
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Ground Transportation
CertCIP: 4902
Median Debt
$6,650
Earnings (5yr)
$40,705
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
CertCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$5,717
Earnings (5yr)
$27,237
Lifetime Value Added
-$177k
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)
CertCIP: 4702
Median Debt
$6,160
Earnings (5yr)
$48,636
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Housing and Human Environments
CertCIP: 1906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$20,921
Lifetime Value Added
-$233k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
CertCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$29,789
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
$8,500
Earnings (5yr)
$40,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$7,251
Earnings (5yr)
$39,279
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k

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.