College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Culinary Institute of America

Hyde Park, NY 3,011 Undergrads 72.0% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$58,790
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$36,113
After Aid
Median Earnings
$51,285
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$36,113
Peer Midpoint: $9,847
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$51,285
Peer Midpoint: $50,128
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$47,475
Peer Midpoint: $40,451
Graduation Rate72.0%
Peer Midpoint: 34.6%
Average Starting Age21.8
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients28.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time96.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS62.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
91.1%
SAT Avg
1,060
SAT Reading
25th: 478-75th: 600
SAT Math
25th: 450-75th: 583
ACT Composite
25th: 17-75th: 23

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
+$545k
+$29k
+$61k
Median Cost$36k/yr
+$479k
-$37k
-$6k
Full Cost$59k/yr
+$437k
-$79k
-$47k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
29
∞
Median Cost$36k/yr
Never
-9%
Full Cost$59k/yr
Never
-44%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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 Return12%

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-64%
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

Culinary Arts and Related Services
CertCIP: 1205
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,294
Natl Median: $30,572
Lifetime Value Added
+$174k

Associate's Degrees

Culinary Arts and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1205
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$48,317
Natl Median: $39,605
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k

Bachelor's Degrees

Culinary Arts and Related Services
BachCIP: 1205
Median Debt
$26,750
Earnings (4yr)
$61,944
Natl Median: $47,668
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,165
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$48,525
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k

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.