College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Kennebec Valley Community College

Fairfield, ME 1,597 Undergrads 44.8% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$12,149
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$3,910
After Aid
Median Earnings
$52,079
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$3,910
Peer Midpoint: $9,847
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$52,079
Peer Midpoint: $50,127.5
Graduation Rate44.8%
Peer Midpoint: 34.6%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients49.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time32.1%
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
+$553k
+$37k
+$68k
Median Cost$4k/yr
+$546k
+$30k
+$61k
Full Cost$12k/yr
+$530k
+$15k
+$46k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
29
Median Cost$4k/yr
30
852%
Full Cost$12k/yr
34
206%
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 Return505%

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 Return88%
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 and Medical Assisting Services
CertCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
CertCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,060
Natl Median: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
+$211k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$33,065
Natl Median: $38,675
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
CertCIP: 4603
Median Debt
$5,500
Earnings (4yr)
$132,564
Natl Median: $53,078
Lifetime Value Added
+$897k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
CertCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,244
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$123k

Associate's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
AssocCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Agricultural Production Operations
AssocCIP: 0103
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,438
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$43,178
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,084
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$194k
Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,168
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection
AssocCIP: 4604
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,378
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Culinary Arts and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1205
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,605
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
AssocCIP: 4603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,498
Natl Median: $70,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,792
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, General
AssocCIP: 1401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1505
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,596
Natl Median: $55,148
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,299
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$11,711
Earnings (4yr)
$36,478
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Marketing
AssocCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,931
Natl Median: $44,264
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$16,068
Earnings (4yr)
$41,939
Natl Median: $40,734
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Precision Metal Working
AssocCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,020
Natl Median: $56,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$128k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$73,136
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$257k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
AssocCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$7,758
Earnings (4yr)
$33,225
Natl Median: $37,656
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k

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.