College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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CUNY LaGuardia Community College

Long Island City, NY 10,556 Undergrads 35.6% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$13,167
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$5,699
After Aid
Median Earnings
$41,653
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$5,699
Peer Midpoint: $9,014
Earnings (10yr)$41,653
Peer Midpoint: $40,397
Graduation Rate35.6%
Peer Midpoint: 32.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients50.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time67.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS55.2%

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
+$417k
+$28k
-$67k
Median Cost$6k/yr
+$407k
+$18k
-$78k
Full Cost$13k/yr
+$393k
+$4k
-$91k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$6k/yr
Never
-741%
Full Cost$13k/yr
Never
-377%
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-564%

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-152%
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
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,475
Lifetime Value Added
+$263k

Associate's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
AssocCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,254
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$8,049
Earnings (5yr)
$49,226
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$105,324
Lifetime Value Added
+$524k
Biology, General
AssocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$5,500
Earnings (5yr)
$44,487
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Communication and Media Studies
AssocCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$36,514
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Computer Programming
AssocCIP: 1102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,881
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
Computer Science
AssocCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,633
Lifetime Value Added
+$147k
Computer Software and Media Applications
AssocCIP: 1108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$24,267
Lifetime Value Added
-$228k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$4,750
Earnings (5yr)
$43,643
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Design and Applied Arts
AssocCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$21,605
Lifetime Value Added
-$256k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
AssocCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$31,640
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technology
AssocCIP: 4701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,612
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
English Language and Literature, General
AssocCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$32,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
Fine and Studio Arts
AssocCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$20,322
Lifetime Value Added
-$269k
Hospitality Administration/Management
AssocCIP: 5209
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$36,679
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Legal Support Services
AssocCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,174
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$4,700
Earnings (5yr)
$39,896
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$7,854
Earnings (5yr)
$44,115
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Physical Sciences
AssocCIP: 4001
Median Debt
$5,654
Earnings (5yr)
$47,678
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Psychology, General
AssocCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$8,650
Earnings (5yr)
$45,078
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$9,969
Earnings (5yr)
$112,905
Lifetime Value Added
+$590k

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.