College ROI

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Iowa Central Community College

Fort Dodge, IA 3,107 Undergrads 36.9% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$15,405
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$9,601
After Aid
Median Earnings
$42,046
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$9,601
Peer Midpoint: $9,014
Earnings (10yr)$42,046
Peer Midpoint: $40,397
Graduation Rate36.9%
Peer Midpoint: 32.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients51.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time77.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS59.8%

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
+$421k
+$32k
-$63k
Median Cost$10k/yr
+$403k
+$14k
-$81k
Full Cost$15k/yr
+$393k
+$4k
-$92k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$10k/yr
Never
-460%
Full Cost$15k/yr
Never
-324%
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-473%

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-140%
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

Ground Transportation
CertCIP: 4902
Median Debt
$4,750
Earnings (5yr)
$35,071
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
$12,986
Earnings (5yr)
$59,754
Lifetime Value Added
+$173k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,065
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k

Associate's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
AssocCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$13,150
Earnings (5yr)
$46,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$12,625
Earnings (2yr)
$30,228
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$13,740
Earnings (5yr)
$53,854
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services
AssocCIP: 0106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,964
Lifetime Value Added
-$245k
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
AssocCIP: 1109
Median Debt
$21,800
Earnings (5yr)
$74,811
Lifetime Value Added
+$248k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$14,250
Earnings (5yr)
$51,828
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$16,930
Earnings (5yr)
$59,924
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technology
AssocCIP: 4701
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$64,758
Lifetime Value Added
+$159k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$162k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (5yr)
$40,983
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$16,621
Earnings (5yr)
$64,475
Lifetime Value Added
+$157k
Social Work
AssocCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$24,750
Earnings (5yr)
$32,090
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$55,687
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k

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.