College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Kennebec Valley Community College

Fairfield, ME 1,538 Undergrads 44.3% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$13,978
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$6,994
After Aid
Median Earnings
$36,035
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$6,994
Peer Midpoint: $9,014
Earnings (10yr)$36,035
Peer Midpoint: $40,397
Graduation Rate44.3%
Peer Midpoint: 32.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients49.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time38.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS69.8%

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
+$364k
-$25k
-$120k
Median Cost$7k/yr
+$352k
-$37k
-$133k
Full Cost$14k/yr
+$339k
-$50k
-$146k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$7k/yr
Never
-1034%
Full Cost$14k/yr
Never
-567%
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-905%

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-223%
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

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
CertCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,060
Lifetime Value Added
+$209k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$33,065
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
CertCIP: 4603
Median Debt
$5,500
Earnings (5yr)
$88,632
Lifetime Value Added
+$454k

Associate's Degrees

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$36,964
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,708
Lifetime Value Added
+$118k
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
AssocCIP: 4603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,498
Lifetime Value Added
+$116k
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1505
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,596
Lifetime Value Added
+$70k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,299
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$11,711
Earnings (5yr)
$34,749
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Marketing
AssocCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,882
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$16,068
Earnings (5yr)
$40,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Precision Metal Working
AssocCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,715
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$70,949
Lifetime Value Added
+$219k

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.