College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Kapiolani Community College

Honolulu, HI 3,955 Undergrads 31.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$11,562
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$5,194
After Aid
Median Earnings
$44,599
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$5,194
Peer Midpoint: $9,014
Earnings (10yr)$44,599
Peer Midpoint: $40,397
Graduation Rate31.4%
Peer Midpoint: 32.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients24.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time38.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS62.2%

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
+$445k
+$56k
-$40k
Median Cost$5k/yr
+$435k
+$46k
-$49k
Full Cost$12k/yr
+$424k
+$35k
-$61k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$5k/yr
Never
-515%
Full Cost$12k/yr
Never
-286%
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-396%

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-111%
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

Associate's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
AssocCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,925
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,021
Lifetime Value Added
-$88
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (5yr)
$96,327
Lifetime Value Added
+$446k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
AssocCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,486
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Culinary Arts and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1205
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$36,477
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Graphic Communications
AssocCIP: 1003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,141
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Hospitality Administration/Management
AssocCIP: 5209
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$33,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$9,975
Earnings (5yr)
$38,019
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Natural Sciences
AssocCIP: 3018
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$77,330
Lifetime Value Added
+$279k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$11,525
Earnings (5yr)
$105,313
Lifetime Value Added
+$525k

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.