College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Dunwoody College of Technology

Minneapolis, MN 1,417 Undergrads 63.7% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$34,834
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$27,023
After Aid
Median Earnings
$61,511
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$27,023
Peer Midpoint: $9,014
Earnings (10yr)$61,511
Peer Midpoint: $40,397
Graduation Rate63.7%
Peer Midpoint: 32.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients31.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time83.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS82.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
98.5%
SAT Avg
1,050
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: 17-75th: 23

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
+$599k
+$210k
+$114k
Median Cost$27k/yr
+$549k
+$160k
+$65k
Full Cost$35k/yr
+$535k
+$146k
+$50k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
26
Median Cost$27k/yr
34
130%
Full Cost$35k/yr
37
79%
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 Return246%

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-2%
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

Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
$5,500
Earnings (5yr)
$58,679
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k

Associate's Degrees

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$16,000
Earnings (5yr)
$69,505
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k
Architectural Sciences and Technology
AssocCIP: 0409
Median Debt
$16,242
Earnings (5yr)
$64,185
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection
AssocCIP: 4604
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$58,993
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
Computer Software and Media Applications
AssocCIP: 1108
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$70,990
Lifetime Value Added
+$183k
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
AssocCIP: 1109
Median Debt
$13,083
Earnings (5yr)
$66,283
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
Design and Applied Arts
AssocCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,849
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1513
Median Debt
$16,000
Earnings (5yr)
$75,599
Lifetime Value Added
+$223k
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
AssocCIP: 4603
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$61,338
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,292
Lifetime Value Added
+$114k
Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1504
Median Debt
$14,590
Earnings (5yr)
$76,421
Lifetime Value Added
+$231k
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)
AssocCIP: 4702
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (5yr)
$75,444
Lifetime Value Added
+$222k
Precision Metal Working
AssocCIP: 4805
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$64,519
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$64,684
Lifetime Value Added
+$127k

Bachelor's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$79,186
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$43,798
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$101,855
Lifetime Value Added
+$260k
Manufacturing Engineering
BachCIP: 1436
Median Debt
$27,974
Earnings (2yr)
$67,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k

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.