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Grand Rapids Community College
Grand Rapids, MI 10,530 Undergrads 22.6% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$16,255
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$11,153
After Aid
Median Earnings
$38,377
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$11,153
Peer Midpoint: $9,014
Earnings (10yr)$38,377
Peer Midpoint: $40,397
Graduation Rate22.6%
Peer Midpoint: 32.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients31.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time32.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS59.9%
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
+$387k
-$2k
-$98k
Median Cost$11k/yr
+$366k
-$23k
-$118k
Full Cost$16k/yr
+$357k
-$32k
-$128k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$11k/yr
Never
-578%
Full Cost$16k/yr
Never
-428%
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-660%
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-180%
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
-
Earnings (5yr)
$35,622
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection
CertCIP: 4604
Median Debt
$6,460
Earnings (5yr)
$27,328
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
CertCIP: 1110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,026
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
CertCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$9,000
Earnings (5yr)
$72,220
Lifetime Value Added
+$293k
Culinary Arts and Related Services
CertCIP: 1205
Median Debt
$7,705
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Lifetime Value Added
-$238k
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
CertCIP: 4603
Median Debt
$6,460
Earnings (5yr)
$48,229
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)
CertCIP: 4702
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
CertCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$33,311
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
$9,407
Earnings (5yr)
$55,029
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
$4,240
Earnings (5yr)
$40,830
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$6,460
Earnings (5yr)
$43,271
Lifetime Value Added
+$263
Associate's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
AssocCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$9,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,096
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$36,268
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,462
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$14,500
Earnings (5yr)
$37,885
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
AssocCIP: 5204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,042
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Computer Programming
AssocCIP: 1102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,771
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
AssocCIP: 1109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$11,600
Earnings (5yr)
$37,695
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Culinary Arts and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1205
Median Debt
$12,319
Earnings (5yr)
$42,557
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$14,957
Earnings (5yr)
$46,454
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$12,614
Earnings (2yr)
$19,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$275k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$9,000
Earnings (5yr)
$41,407
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$14,277
Earnings (5yr)
$70,523
Lifetime Value Added
+$208k
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.