College ROI

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Florence-Darlington Technical College

Florence, SC 2,890 Undergrads 16.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$10,497
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$598
After Aid
Median Earnings
$32,748
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$598
Peer Midpoint: $9,014
Earnings (10yr)$32,748
Peer Midpoint: $40,397
Graduation Rate16.4%
Peer Midpoint: 32.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients54.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time41.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS44.7%

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
+$333k
-$56k
-$151k
Median Cost$1k/yr
+$332k
-$57k
-$152k
Full Cost$10k/yr
+$314k
-$75k
-$170k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$1k/yr
Never
-13854%
Full Cost$10k/yr
Never
-884%
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-1458%

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-319%
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

Accounting and Related Services
CertCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$33,284
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
CertCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,271
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,393
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
CertCIP: 5204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$29,949
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other
CertCIP: 1199
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,409
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
CertCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$39,609
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,647
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,663
Lifetime Value Added
+$279k
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)
CertCIP: 4702
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Human Services, General
CertCIP: 4400
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$29,365
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
CertCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$35,492
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
CertCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,019
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
$6,000
Earnings (5yr)
$37,586
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
CertCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$72,143
Lifetime Value Added
+$302k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,746
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k

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.