College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

GateWay Community College-Central City

Phoenix, AZ 595 Undergrads 64.2% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$13,985
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$9,817
After Aid
Median Earnings
$70,786
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$9,817
Peer Midpoint: $17,726
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$70,786
Peer Midpoint: $36,184
Warning: This school's reported earnings inflated significantly (+39%) when the Dept of Education excluded non-graduates from the dataset. Take caution when comparing.
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$51,029
Peer Midpoint: $36,543
Graduation Rate64.2%
Peer Midpoint: 69.9%
Average Starting Age27.9
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients21.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time51.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS67.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 1 Year to Graduation

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
+$779k
+$375k
+$293k
Median Cost$10k/yr
+$770k
+$366k
+$284k
Full Cost$14k/yr
+$766k
+$362k
+$280k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
20
∞
Median Cost$10k/yr
20
3117%
Full Cost$14k/yr
21
2158%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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 Return4341%

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 Return993%

Program ROI Analysis

These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →

Certificates

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
CertCIP: 5108

Earnings shared by 2 GateWay Community College campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,423
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
CertCIP: 5109

Earnings shared by 2 GateWay Community College campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$6,750
Earnings (4yr)
$82,668
Natl Median: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
+$413k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $38,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$3,000
Earnings (5yr)
$39,780
Natl Median: $26,307
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $30,572
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,078
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
CertCIP: 5107

Earnings shared by 2 GateWay Community College campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,700
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,148
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,598
Natl Median: $38,061
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139

Earnings shared by 2 GateWay Community College campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$3,500
Earnings (4yr)
$72,726
Natl Median: $56,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$316k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805

Earnings shared by 2 GateWay Community College campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,289
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$97k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $29,652
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706

Earnings shared by 2 GateWay Community College campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,974
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), 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 decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.