College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Harrisburg Area Community College

Harrisburg, PA 9,533 Undergrads 21.3% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$18,369
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$14,471
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,031
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$14,471
Peer Midpoint: $9,847
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$54,031
Peer Midpoint: $50,128
Warning: This school's reported earnings inflated significantly (+29%) when the Dept of Education excluded non-graduates from the dataset. Take caution when comparing.
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$42,007
Peer Midpoint: $40,451
Graduation Rate21.3%
Peer Midpoint: 34.6%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age25.3
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 Recipients42.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time32.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS61.3%

Admissions Profile

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

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 2 Years 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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$572k
+$56k
+$87k
Median Cost$14k/yr
+$545k
+$30k
+$61k
Full Cost$18k/yr
+$538k
+$22k
+$54k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
27
∞
Median Cost$14k/yr
32
229%
Full Cost$18k/yr
34
159%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return405%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return49%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$11,436
Earnings (4yr)
$39,802
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,223
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$37,315
Natl Median: $38,675
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,400
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,529
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$35,742
Natl Median: $33,673
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,116
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,078
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,148
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,962
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $49,747
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,006
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,319
Natl Median: $56,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$145k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,127
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,631
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
$15,973
Earnings (4yr)
$47,037
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
Median Debt
$20,112
Earnings (4yr)
$71,104
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$219k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,283
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Architecture
AssocCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,546
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
AssocCIP: 5010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,370
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
AssocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,758
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,250
Earnings (4yr)
$52,229
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,587
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,703
Earnings (4yr)
$45,247
Natl Median: $49,927
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Chemistry
AssocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,597
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,519
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
AssocCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,279
Natl Median: $57,472
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
Median Debt
$14,750
Earnings (4yr)
$39,729
Natl Median: $37,650
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,524
Natl Median: $54,246
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Computer Science
AssocCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,283
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$13,809
Earnings (4yr)
$44,256
Natl Median: $41,737
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Median Debt
$18,977
Earnings (5yr)
$57,384
Natl Median: $54,971
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
Median Debt
$19,264
Earnings (4yr)
$54,807
Natl Median: $54,726
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
AssocCIP: 1510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,283
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,845
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$39,335
Natl Median: $39,605
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,048
Natl Median: $61,982
Lifetime Value Added
+$174k
Median Debt
$16,417
Earnings (4yr)
$35,131
Natl Median: $38,127
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,303
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $31,773
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,447
Natl Median: $70,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,792
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,241
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, General
AssocCIP: 1401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,696
Natl Median: $72,916
Lifetime Value Added
+$270k
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other
AssocCIP: 1599
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,186
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,913
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fire Protection
AssocCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,589
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,271
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,469
Natl Median: $46,500
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Median Debt
$24,514
Earnings (4yr)
$45,936
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,027
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,180
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,249
Natl Median: $58,236
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,099
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$33,625
Earnings (4yr)
$42,048
Natl Median: $39,422
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Median Debt
$13,337
Earnings (4yr)
$43,996
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$43,159
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Mathematics
AssocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,929
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,922
Natl Median: $64,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,254
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,634
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
AssocCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,229
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
AssocCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$15,875
Earnings (4yr)
$44,652
Natl Median: $39,288
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Public Health
AssocCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,630
Natl Median: $43,759
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (4yr)
$83,337
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$329k
Median Debt
$21,405
Earnings (4yr)
$46,654
Natl Median: $43,146
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Social Work
AssocCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,409
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
AssocCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,162
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$39,960
Natl Median: $37,656
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,172
Natl Median: $58,424
Lifetime Value Added
+$119k
Median Debt
$13,401
Earnings (5yr)
$36,385
Natl Median: $32,799
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k

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.