College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Delta College

University Center, MI 6,061 Undergrads 23.3% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$11,953
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$4,550
After Aid
Median Earnings
$37,781
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$4,550
Peer Midpoint: $9,014
Earnings (10yr)$37,781
Peer Midpoint: $40,397
Graduation Rate23.3%
Peer Midpoint: 32.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients45.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time34.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS52.6%

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
+$381k
-$8k
-$103k
Median Cost$5k/yr
+$373k
-$16k
-$112k
Full Cost$12k/yr
+$359k
-$30k
-$125k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$5k/yr
Never
-1338%
Full Cost$12k/yr
Never
-571%
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-908%

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-217%
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
-
Earnings (5yr)
$31,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
CertCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$29,236
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
CertCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,546
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
$10,500
Earnings (5yr)
$58,950
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$39,721
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
CertCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k

Associate's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
AssocCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,331
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,927
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$11,966
Earnings (5yr)
$49,670
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$8,616
Earnings (5yr)
$49,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
AssocCIP: 1110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,353
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$8,291
Earnings (5yr)
$47,258
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$44,502
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Fine and Studio Arts
AssocCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$23,940
Lifetime Value Added
-$230k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$29,771
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$26,632
Lifetime Value Added
-$202k
Legal Support Services
AssocCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$8,750
Earnings (5yr)
$45,784
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Marketing
AssocCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,144
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Physical Science Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4103
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,710
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
Precision Metal Working
AssocCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,856
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
AssocCIP: 0907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$16,169
Lifetime Value Added
-$299k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$14,339
Earnings (5yr)
$71,328
Lifetime Value Added
+$227k

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.