College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Delaware County Community College

Media, PA 7,065 Undergrads 17.6% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$12,957
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$7,395
After Aid
Median Earnings
$45,391
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$7,395
Peer Midpoint: $9,014
Earnings (10yr)$45,391
Peer Midpoint: $40,397
Graduation Rate17.6%
Peer Midpoint: 32.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients38.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time27.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS61.7%

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
+$452k
+$63k
-$32k
Median Cost$7k/yr
+$439k
+$50k
-$46k
Full Cost$13k/yr
+$428k
+$39k
-$56k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$7k/yr
Never
-337%
Full Cost$13k/yr
Never
-235%
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-308%

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-98%
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

Criminal Justice and Corrections
CertCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$5,100
Earnings (5yr)
$60,104
Lifetime Value Added
+$179k
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
CertCIP: 4603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,717
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)
CertCIP: 4702
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,978
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k

Associate's Degrees

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,771
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (5yr)
$73,758
Lifetime Value Added
+$243k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (5yr)
$55,810
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Communication and Media Studies
AssocCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,500
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$11,600
Earnings (5yr)
$43,274
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,037
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
AssocCIP: 5100
Median Debt
$11,228
Earnings (5yr)
$46,836
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$12,260
Earnings (5yr)
$43,375
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Psychology, General
AssocCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$15,271
Earnings (5yr)
$34,933
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$16,885
Earnings (5yr)
$85,299
Lifetime Value Added
+$345k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
AssocCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$10,500
Earnings (5yr)
$33,700
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k

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.