College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Cuyahoga Community College District

Cleveland, OH 13,382 Undergrads 19.1% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$11,189
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$4,266
After Aid
Median Earnings
$49,698
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$4,266
Peer Midpoint: $9,847
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$49,698
Peer Midpoint: $50,128
Warning: This school's reported earnings inflated significantly (+39%) when the Dept of Education excluded non-graduates from the dataset. Take caution when comparing.
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$35,654
Peer Midpoint: $40,451
Graduation Rate19.1%
Peer Midpoint: 34.6%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age25.3
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 Recipients42.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time30.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS51.5%

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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$529k
+$14k
+$45k
Median Cost$4k/yr
+$522k
+$6k
+$37k
Full Cost$11k/yr
+$509k
-$7k
+$25k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
32
∞
Median Cost$4k/yr
34
475%
Full Cost$11k/yr
40
119%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return346%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return55%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,913
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$77,536
Natl Median: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
+$365k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,681
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $38,675
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $38,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,400
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,777
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $30,572
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,116
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,003
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,199
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,891
Natl Median: $40,962
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,294
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,747
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$9,055
Earnings (4yr)
$57,467
Natl Median: $56,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$167k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,899
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k
Public Health
CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,933
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $29,652
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,862
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
$7,777
Earnings (4yr)
$51,858
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
Median Debt
$9,500
Earnings (4yr)
$44,042
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Median Debt
$10,925
Earnings (4yr)
$67,587
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$207k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$35,115
Natl Median: $37,886
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,283
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$31,872
Natl Median: $35,660
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Median Debt
$9,478
Earnings (4yr)
$44,372
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,516
Natl Median: $37,587
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Carpenters
AssocCIP: 4602
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,387
Natl Median: $55,195
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
Computer Programming
AssocCIP: 1102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,769
Natl Median: $58,070
Lifetime Value Added
+$226k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,737
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
AssocCIP: 1510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,613
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$6,846
Earnings (4yr)
$45,590
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,291
Natl Median: $39,605
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,449
Natl Median: $61,982
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
Median Debt
$6,000
Earnings (4yr)
$30,936
Natl Median: $38,127
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,303
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,572
Natl Median: $67,792
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,046
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other
AssocCIP: 1599
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$126,290
Natl Median: $69,455
Lifetime Value Added
+$731k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$33,863
Natl Median: $40,095
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,186
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fire Protection
AssocCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,589
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,619
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,017
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$31,926
Natl Median: $41,099
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,216
Natl Median: $54,425
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,593
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,923
Natl Median: $56,799
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,207
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,360
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Median Debt
$6,500
Earnings (4yr)
$43,482
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Marketing
AssocCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,264
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$66,859
Natl Median: $64,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$188k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,054
Natl Median: $40,734
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,724
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,499
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
AssocCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,759
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$9,484
Earnings (4yr)
$77,947
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$300k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$22,578
Natl Median: $29,755
Lifetime Value Added
-$243k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
AssocCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,291
Natl Median: $40,162
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Median Debt
$9,080
Earnings (4yr)
$35,033
Natl Median: $37,656
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,512
Natl Median: $58,424
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,057
Natl Median: $41,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,555
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

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.