College ROI

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Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs, CO 28,086 Undergrads 25.5% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$25,237
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$17,860
After Aid
Median Earnings
$57,367
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$17,860
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$57,367
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
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
$44,720
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate25.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age33.4
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 Recipients61.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time59.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS54.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 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
+$508k
+$38k
+$21k
Median Cost$18k/yr
+$443k
-$27k
-$43k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$417k
-$53k
-$70k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
46
∞
Median Cost$18k/yr
Never
-67%
Full Cost$25k/yr
Never
-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 Return-40%

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-62%

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 →

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
$19,019
Earnings (4yr)
$41,090
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Median Debt
$21,354
Earnings (4yr)
$43,781
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,238
Natl Median: $49,927
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Median Debt
$14,882
Earnings (4yr)
$65,552
Natl Median: $54,246
Lifetime Value Added
+$165k
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,792
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$35,294
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$35,368
Earnings (4yr)
$57,068
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Median Debt
$34,769
Earnings (4yr)
$65,877
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
Median Debt
$41,650
Earnings (4yr)
$41,964
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
Median Debt
$39,159
Earnings (4yr)
$78,606
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$133k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$36,444
Earnings (4yr)
$85,337
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$184k
Median Debt
$46,897
Earnings (4yr)
$84,277
Natl Median: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
+$176k
Median Debt
$44,301
Earnings (4yr)
$46,981
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$37,387
Earnings (4yr)
$48,816
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$13,445
Earnings (4yr)
$95,519
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$262k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,805
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,101
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Median Debt
$38,010
Earnings (4yr)
$67,660
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Median Debt
$32,417
Earnings (4yr)
$101,101
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$38,148
Earnings (4yr)
$126,865
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$442k
Median Debt
$32,848
Earnings (4yr)
$98,538
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
+$196k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,581
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$216k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,287
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
Homeland Security
MastCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,872
Natl Median: $96,660
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Median Debt
$37,581
Earnings (4yr)
$103,076
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$235k
Systems Engineering
MastCIP: 1427
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$89,530
Natl Median: $144,565
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
$97,503
Earnings (4yr)
$99,321
Natl Median: $113,566
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Computer Science
DocCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$74,338
Earnings (4yr)
$165,750
Natl Median: $178,476
Lifetime Value Added
+$514k

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.