College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

Cincinnati, OH 5,283 Undergrads 24.2% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$13,830
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$7,113
After Aid
Median Earnings
$40,137
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$7,113
Peer Midpoint: $16,832
Earnings (10yr)$40,137
Peer Midpoint: $31,349
Graduation Rate24.2%
Peer Midpoint: 66.3%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients44.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time34.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS59.7%

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
+$429k
+$104k
-$56k
Median Cost$7k/yr
+$422k
+$97k
-$62k
Full Cost$14k/yr
+$416k
+$91k
-$69k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$7k/yr
Never
-946%
Full Cost$14k/yr
Never
-535%
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-877%

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-214%
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

Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
$12,839
Earnings (5yr)
$52,142
Lifetime Value Added
+$97k

Associate's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
AssocCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$13,243
Earnings (5yr)
$57,028
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$14,667
Earnings (5yr)
$41,522
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$13,625
Earnings (5yr)
$59,439
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services
AssocCIP: 0106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,941
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$13,774
Earnings (5yr)
$49,138
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1502
Median Debt
$14,250
Earnings (5yr)
$75,827
Lifetime Value Added
+$262k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$66,662
Lifetime Value Added
+$181k
Computer Programming
AssocCIP: 1102
Median Debt
$9,006
Earnings (5yr)
$80,893
Lifetime Value Added
+$307k
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
AssocCIP: 1110
Median Debt
$10,783
Earnings (5yr)
$61,147
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
Culinary Arts and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1205
Median Debt
$8,664
Earnings (5yr)
$38,302
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,087
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1504
Median Debt
$7,379
Earnings (5yr)
$73,884
Lifetime Value Added
+$245k
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1505
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,141
Lifetime Value Added
+$149k
Graphic Communications
AssocCIP: 1003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,856
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$23,240
Earnings (5yr)
$44,567
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Hospitality Administration/Management
AssocCIP: 5209
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$218k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (5yr)
$42,475
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1508
Median Debt
$13,244
Earnings (5yr)
$72,185
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$19,419
Earnings (5yr)
$68,946
Lifetime Value Added
+$201k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
AssocCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$15,085
Earnings (5yr)
$26,975
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k

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.