College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Dutchess Community College

Poughkeepsie, NY 3,696 Undergrads 32.5% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$15,709
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$8,433
After Aid
Median Earnings
$43,929
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$8,433
Peer Midpoint: $9,014
Earnings (10yr)$43,929
Peer Midpoint: $40,397
Graduation Rate32.5%
Peer Midpoint: 32.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients36.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time66.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS57.2%

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
+$439k
+$50k
-$46k
Median Cost$8k/yr
+$423k
+$34k
-$61k
Full Cost$16k/yr
+$410k
+$21k
-$75k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$8k/yr
Never
-396%
Full Cost$16k/yr
Never
-259%
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-357%

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-116%
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

Associate's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$7,599
Earnings (5yr)
$51,171
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,160
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Communication and Media Studies
AssocCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$8,937
Earnings (5yr)
$36,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (5yr)
$47,438
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Engineering, General
AssocCIP: 1401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$74,796
Lifetime Value Added
+$251k
Fine and Studio Arts
AssocCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$30,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
AssocCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$34,255
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Human Services, General
AssocCIP: 4400
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$33,331
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Legal Support Services
AssocCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,580
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$9,779
Earnings (5yr)
$37,926
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$95,880
Lifetime Value Added
+$436k
Visual and Performing Arts, General
AssocCIP: 5001
Median Debt
$6,500
Earnings (5yr)
$26,147
Lifetime Value Added
-$214k

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.