College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Dorsey College

Madison Heights, MI 547 Undergrads 46.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$30,059
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$22,079
After Aid
Median Earnings
$29,392
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$22,079
Peer Midpoint: $16,832
Earnings (10yr)$29,392
Peer Midpoint: $31,349
Graduation Rate46.4%
Peer Midpoint: 66.3%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients67.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time100.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS34.5%

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
+$320k
-$4k
-$164k
Median Cost$22k/yr
+$300k
-$25k
-$184k
Full Cost$30k/yr
+$293k
-$32k
-$192k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$22k/yr
Never
-900%
Full Cost$30k/yr
Never
-688%
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-1171%

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-287%
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

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
CertCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$26,931
Lifetime Value Added
-$187k
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
CertCIP: 5204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$19,227
Lifetime Value Added
-$259k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5110
Median Debt
$14,750
Earnings (5yr)
$28,232
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
CertCIP: 1204
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (5yr)
$17,208
Lifetime Value Added
-$295k
Culinary Arts and Related Services
CertCIP: 1205
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$17,060
Lifetime Value Added
-$296k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$22,817
Lifetime Value Added
-$232k
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technology
CertCIP: 4701
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$40,230
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
CertCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$30,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)
CertCIP: 4702
Median Debt
$9,500
Earnings (5yr)
$42,330
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Hospitality Administration/Management
CertCIP: 5209
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$21,384
Lifetime Value Added
-$248k
Legal Support Services
CertCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$17,489
Lifetime Value Added
-$280k
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$28,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services
CertCIP: 5135
Median Debt
$9,500
Earnings (5yr)
$18,124
Lifetime Value Added
-$285k

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.