Houston Community College

Houston, TX 40,503 Undergrads 20.4% Grad Rate

School Website|Financial Calculator

Total Cost

$12,009

Sticker Price

Avg Net Price

$5,737

After Aid

Median Earnings

$50,591

4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$5,737

Peer Midpoint: $9,847

Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$50,591

Peer Midpoint: $50,127.5

Graduation Rate20.4%

Peer Midpoint: 34.6%

Socio-Economic Diversity

Pell Grant Recipients46.6%

Enrollment Status

Full-Time38.5%

Economic Outcomes

Earn More than HS52.1%

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

+$538k

+$23k

+$54k

Median Cost$6k/yr

+$528k

+$12k

+$43k

Full Cost$12k/yr

+$516k

+$576

+$32k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age

Return on Inv. %

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

∞

Median Cost$6k/yr

411%

Full Cost$12k/yr

144%

Analysis Assumptions:

Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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 Return389%

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 Return61%

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 (4yr)

$39,946

Natl Median: $44,589

Lifetime Value Added

-$22k

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services

CertCIP: 5108

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$42,204

Natl Median: $34,272

Lifetime Value Added

+$3k

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions

CertCIP: 5109

Median Debt

$10,500

Earnings (4yr)

$75,287

Natl Median: $57,584

Lifetime Value Added

+$342k

Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services

CertCIP: 0106

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

Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians

CertCIP: 1002

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $33,223

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Business Administration, Management and Operations

CertCIP: 5202

Median Debt

$13,625

Earnings (4yr)

$38,800

Natl Median: $47,440

Lifetime Value Added

-$34k

Business Operations Support and Assistant Services

CertCIP: 5204

Median Debt

$18,595

Earnings (4yr)

$35,035

Natl Median: $32,681

Lifetime Value Added

-$76k

Computer Programming

CertCIP: 1102

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $56,556

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications

CertCIP: 1109

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $50,162

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Construction Engineering Technology/Technician

CertCIP: 1510

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $57,671

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services

CertCIP: 1204

Median Debt

$9,500

Earnings (4yr)

$22,667

Natl Median: $26,307

Lifetime Value Added

-$214k

Criminal Justice and Corrections

CertCIP: 4301

Median Debt

$9,500

Earnings (4yr)

$59,021

Natl Median: $57,702

Lifetime Value Added

+$181k

Culinary Arts and Related Services

CertCIP: 1205

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$22,990

Natl Median: $30,572

Lifetime Value Added

-$210k

Dental Support Services and Allied Professions

CertCIP: 5106

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $33,673

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Design and Applied Arts

CertCIP: 5004

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $36,116

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians

CertCIP: 1513

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$55,262

Natl Median: $53,359

Lifetime Value Added

+$142k

Electrical and Power Transmission Installers

CertCIP: 4603

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

Film/Video and Photographic Arts

CertCIP: 5006

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $32,800

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Finance and Financial Management Services

CertCIP: 5208

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

+$151k

Geography and Cartography

CertCIP: 4507

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $58,705

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Graphic Communications

CertCIP: 1003

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $32,130

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Health and Medical Administrative Services

CertCIP: 5107

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $35,447

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)

CertCIP: 4702

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$49,588

Natl Median: $48,148

Lifetime Value Added

+$82k

Hospitality Administration/Management

CertCIP: 5209

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $40,962

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services

CertCIP: 1907

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $31,135

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians

CertCIP: 1506

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$41,545

Natl Median: $57,294

Lifetime Value Added

-$4k

International Business

CertCIP: 5211

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $72,496

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Legal Support Services

CertCIP: 2203

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $49,747

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

CertCIP: 2401

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $44,906

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Marketing

CertCIP: 5214

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $49,757

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions

CertCIP: 5115

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $43,365

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Mining and Petroleum Technologies/Technicians

CertCIP: 1509

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $72,032

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Physical Science Technologies/Technicians

CertCIP: 4103

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $68,527

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

CertCIP: 5139

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$63,038

Natl Median: $56,073

Lifetime Value Added

+$209k

Precision Metal Working

CertCIP: 4805

Median Debt

$9,500

Earnings (4yr)

$41,773

Natl Median: $48,702

Lifetime Value Added

-$2k

Real Estate

CertCIP: 5215

Median Debt

$14,250

Earnings (4yr)

$27,929

Natl Median: $46,762

Lifetime Value Added

-$155k

Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians

CertCIP: 4706

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$49,714

Natl Median: $51,586

Lifetime Value Added

+$84k

Associate's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services

AssocCIP: 5203

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$46,694

Natl Median: $47,660

Lifetime Value Added

+$5k

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services

AssocCIP: 5108

Median Debt

$15,000

Earnings (4yr)

$52,208

Natl Median: $42,269

Lifetime Value Added

+$59k

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions

AssocCIP: 5109

Median Debt

$17,487

Earnings (4yr)

$80,188

Natl Median: $65,389

Lifetime Value Added

+$317k

American Sign Language

AssocCIP: 1616

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

Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians

AssocCIP: 1002

Median Debt

$23,470

Earnings (4yr)

$27,069

Natl Median: $35,660

Lifetime Value Added

-$194k

Biology, General

AssocCIP: 2601

Median Debt

$11,150

Earnings (4yr)

$58,846

Natl Median: $44,758

Lifetime Value Added

+$123k

Business Administration, Management and Operations

AssocCIP: 5202

Median Debt

$15,625

Earnings (4yr)

$52,985

Natl Median: $48,733

Lifetime Value Added

+$67k

Business Operations Support and Assistant Services

AssocCIP: 5204

Median Debt

$33,518

Earnings (4yr)

$36,872

Natl Median: $37,587

Lifetime Value Added

-$94k

Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions

AssocCIP: 5110

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$63,664

Natl Median: $57,472

Lifetime Value Added

+$168k

Computer and Information Sciences, General

AssocCIP: 1101

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

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $62,283

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications

AssocCIP: 1109

Median Debt

$14,750

Earnings (4yr)

$62,339

Natl Median: $54,971

Lifetime Value Added

+$156k

Construction Engineering Technology/Technician

AssocCIP: 1510

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $71,367

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services

AssocCIP: 1204

Median Debt

$21,317

Earnings (4yr)

$22,631

Natl Median: $27,014

Lifetime Value Added

-$241k

Criminal Justice and Corrections

AssocCIP: 4301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $46,706

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Culinary Arts and Related Services

AssocCIP: 1205

Median Debt

$20,327

Earnings (4yr)

$27,150

Natl Median: $39,605

Lifetime Value Added

-$194k

Dental Support Services and Allied Professions

AssocCIP: 5106

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$78,980

Natl Median: $61,982

Lifetime Value Added

+$306k

Design and Applied Arts

AssocCIP: 5004

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$30,434

Natl Median: $38,127

Lifetime Value Added

-$160k

Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians

AssocCIP: 1513

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$60,458

Natl Median: $55,895

Lifetime Value Added

+$138k

Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians

AssocCIP: 1503

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $67,792

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians

AssocCIP: 1504

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $73,046

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Engineering Science

AssocCIP: 1413

Median Debt

$11,373

Earnings (4yr)

$80,602

Natl Median: $75,098

Lifetime Value Added

+$321k

English Language and Literature, General

AssocCIP: 2301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $36,134

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Film/Video and Photographic Arts

AssocCIP: 5006

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $33,186

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Finance and Financial Management Services

AssocCIP: 5208

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

Geography and Cartography

AssocCIP: 4507

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $53,052

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Graphic Communications

AssocCIP: 1003

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$34,557

Natl Median: $36,221

Lifetime Value Added

-$118k

Health and Medical Administrative Services

AssocCIP: 5107

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $37,073

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General

AssocCIP: 5100

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$34,236

Natl Median: $51,180

Lifetime Value Added

-$128k

Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)

AssocCIP: 4702

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $58,236

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Hospitality Administration/Management

AssocCIP: 5209

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $41,099

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services

AssocCIP: 1907

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $34,184

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians

AssocCIP: 1506

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $73,593

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

International Business

AssocCIP: 5211

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $53,207

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Legal Support Services

AssocCIP: 2203

Median Debt

$13,766

Earnings (5yr)

$43,910

Natl Median: $44,669

Lifetime Value Added

-$32k

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

AssocCIP: 2401

Median Debt

$14,301

Earnings (4yr)

$48,944

Natl Median: $44,125

Lifetime Value Added

+$27k

Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services

AssocCIP: 1601

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

Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions

AssocCIP: 5115

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $40,734

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Mining and Petroleum Technologies/Technicians

AssocCIP: 1509

Median Debt

$19,625

Earnings (4yr)

$73,729

Natl Median: $77,878

Lifetime Value Added

+$259k

Music

AssocCIP: 5009

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $34,056

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Physical Science Technologies/Technicians

AssocCIP: 4103

Median Debt

$16,784

Earnings (4yr)

$74,124

Natl Median: $80,768

Lifetime Value Added

+$263k

Physics

AssocCIP: 4008

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $63,321

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Political Science and Government

AssocCIP: 4510

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $45,147

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Precision Metal Working

AssocCIP: 4805

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $56,451

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Real Estate

AssocCIP: 5215

Median Debt

$24,386

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $40,327

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

AssocCIP: 5138

Median Debt

$12,455

Earnings (4yr)

$89,002

Natl Median: $80,813

Lifetime Value Added

+$396k

Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations

AssocCIP: 5219

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $53,002

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

AssocCIP: 1312

Median Debt

$13,365

Earnings (4yr)

$58,451

Natl Median: $37,656

Lifetime Value Added

+$119k

Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians

AssocCIP: 4706

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$48,330

Natl Median: $58,424

Lifetime Value Added

+$21k

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 degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.