College ROI

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Community College of Philadelphia

Philadelphia, PA 11,948 Undergrads 19.2% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$19,978
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$11,751
After Aid
Median Earnings
$51,450
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$11,751
Peer Midpoint: $9,956
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$51,450
Peer Midpoint: $51,775
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$44,885
Peer Midpoint: $45,130
Graduation Rate19.2%
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)24.8
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients63.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time37.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS53.8%

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
+$539k
+$15k
+$53k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$518k
-$6k
+$31k
Full Cost$20k/yr
+$502k
-$22k
+$16k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
31
∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
38
144%
Full Cost$20k/yr
46
44%
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 Return187%

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-7%

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)
-
Natl Median: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,556
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,615
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,702
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $30,572
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Data Processing
CertCIP: 1103
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,944
Natl Median: $46,061
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $31,337
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,202
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,800
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,750
Earnings (5yr)
$48,136
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,554
Natl Median: $31,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,305
Natl Median: $36,390
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,747
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $28,967
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$38,569
Natl Median: $43,365
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
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Music
CertCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,318
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $38,061
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,631
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,476
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,960
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
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Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$85,033
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$352k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,886
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,531
Natl Median: $55,767
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,403
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,403
Natl Median: $35,660
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
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Biology, General
AssocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,758
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,378
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$11,425
Earnings (4yr)
$54,793
Natl Median: $49,927
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
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Chemistry
AssocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,597
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,304
Natl Median: $57,472
Lifetime Value Added
+$265k
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Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$39,860
Natl Median: $43,243
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
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Median Debt
$11,500
Earnings (4yr)
$46,191
Natl Median: $54,246
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
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Median Debt
$9,750
Earnings (2yr)
$48,849
Natl Median: $54,726
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
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Median Debt
$11,750
Earnings (4yr)
$46,155
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,605
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,667
Natl Median: $61,982
Lifetime Value Added
+$214k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $31,773
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
AssocCIP: 1500
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,343
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, General
AssocCIP: 1401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$26,755
Natl Median: $36,134
Lifetime Value Added
-$215k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,186
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fine and Studio Arts
AssocCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$31,136
Natl Median: $31,650
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
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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)
$42,873
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
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Median Debt
$13,650
Earnings (4yr)
$52,373
Natl Median: $51,180
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $41,099
Lifetime Value Added
-$215k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,232
Earnings (4yr)
$47,362
Natl Median: $39,422
Lifetime Value Added
+$539
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International/Globalization Studies
AssocCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $38,348
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,398
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
+$109k
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Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$47,477
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
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Mathematics
AssocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,929
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
AssocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,056
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physical Sciences, General
AssocCIP: 4001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,667
Natl Median: $49,076
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
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Psychology, General
AssocCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$14,250
Earnings (4yr)
$41,375
Natl Median: $39,288
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
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Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$96,246
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$453k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,769
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$42,541
Natl Median: $37,656
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
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Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $58,424
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
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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.