College ROI

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Houston City College

Houston, TX 40,503 Undergrads 19.7% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$12,286
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$4,575
After Aid
Median Earnings
$52,814
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$4,575
Peer Midpoint: $9,956
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$52,814
Peer Midpoint: $51,775
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$42,369
Peer Midpoint: $45,130
Graduation Rate19.7%
Peer Midpoint: 35.7%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age26.5
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 Recipients49.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time38.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS56.2%

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)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$552k
+$28k
+$66k
Median Cost$5k/yr
+$544k
+$20k
+$57k
Full Cost$12k/yr
+$530k
+$6k
+$43k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
29
∞
Median Cost$5k/yr
31
684%
Full Cost$12k/yr
35
192%
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 Return474%

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 Return76%

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

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,946
Natl Median: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,204
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,287
Natl Median: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
+$346k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
CertCIP: 5010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,223
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,500
Earnings (4yr)
$38,800
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$35,035
Natl Median: $32,681
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,556
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$32,271
Natl Median: $50,162
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
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Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
CertCIP: 1510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,671
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$12,023
Earnings (4yr)
$22,667
Natl Median: $26,307
Lifetime Value Added
-$213k
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Median Debt
$7,500
Earnings (4yr)
$59,021
Natl Median: $57,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$184k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$22,990
Natl Median: $30,572
Lifetime Value Added
-$210k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,673
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,116
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,262
Natl Median: $53,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$144k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,078
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,492
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,202
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,800
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,418
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fire Protection
CertCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,144
Natl Median: $62,436
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,130
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,588
Natl Median: $48,148
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,962
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $31,135
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,545
Natl Median: $57,294
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,496
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,747
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
CertCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,757
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,365
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,032
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,527
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,481
Natl Median: $56,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$286k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,773
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
-$711
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Real Estate
CertCIP: 5215
Median Debt
$14,498
Earnings (4yr)
$27,929
Natl Median: $46,762
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
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Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$9,618
Earnings (4yr)
$49,714
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
+$85k
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Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
$15,802
Earnings (4yr)
$46,694
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
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Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,208
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
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Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$80,188
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$322k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,886
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$27,069
Natl Median: $35,660
Lifetime Value Added
-$193k
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Biology, General
AssocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$10,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,846
Natl Median: $44,758
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
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Median Debt
$14,062
Earnings (4yr)
$52,985
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
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Median Debt
$29,862
Earnings (4yr)
$36,872
Natl Median: $37,587
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,664
Natl Median: $57,472
Lifetime Value Added
+$172k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,246
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Programming
AssocCIP: 1102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,070
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
AssocCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$13,291
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,283
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,496
Earnings (4yr)
$62,339
Natl Median: $54,971
Lifetime Value Added
+$159k
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Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
AssocCIP: 1510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,626
Earnings (4yr)
$22,631
Natl Median: $27,014
Lifetime Value Added
-$239k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,538
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$27,150
Natl Median: $39,605
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$78,980
Natl Median: $61,982
Lifetime Value Added
+$311k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$30,434
Natl Median: $38,127
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,458
Natl Median: $55,895
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k
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Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,024
Natl Median: $67,792
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
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Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,046
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering Science
AssocCIP: 1413
Median Debt
$5,250
Earnings (4yr)
$80,602
Natl Median: $75,098
Lifetime Value Added
+$326k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,134
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
Fine and Studio Arts
AssocCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $31,650
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: $53,052
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$34,557
Natl Median: $36,221
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,133
Natl Median: $51,180
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,236
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,593
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,207
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,058
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
+$136k
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Median Debt
$12,435
Earnings (4yr)
$48,944
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,796
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
AssocCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,264
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
AssocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,929
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,734
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,729
Natl Median: $77,878
Lifetime Value Added
+$264k
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Music
AssocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,056
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,124
Natl Median: $80,768
Lifetime Value Added
+$267k
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Physics
AssocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,321
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,147
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Real Estate
AssocCIP: 5215
Median Debt
$20,074
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,327
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,485
Earnings (4yr)
$89,002
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$401k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$17,548
Natl Median: $53,002
Lifetime Value Added
-$296k
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Median Debt
$13,550
Earnings (4yr)
$58,451
Natl Median: $37,656
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
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Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,330
Natl Median: $58,424
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
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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.