College ROI

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Kirkwood Community College

Cedar Rapids, IA 7,591 Undergrads 32.1% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$15,579
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$9,705
After Aid
Median Earnings
$48,663
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$9,705
Peer Midpoint: $9,847
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$48,663
Peer Midpoint: $50,128
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$41,016
Peer Midpoint: $40,451
Graduation Rate32.1%
Peer Midpoint: 34.6%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age24.3
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients40.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time51.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS63.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 2 Years to Graduation

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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$519k
+$4k
+$35k
Median Cost$10k/yr
+$501k
-$14k
+$17k
Full Cost$16k/yr
+$491k
-$25k
+$6k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
34
∞
Median Cost$10k/yr
43
96%
Full Cost$16k/yr
53
22%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return154%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-4%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $28,266
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,010
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$36,813
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Animal Sciences
CertCIP: 0109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,277
Natl Median: $32,878
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,681
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Carpenters
CertCIP: 4602
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,835
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,126
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,556
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,400
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,572
Natl Median: $52,615
Lifetime Value Added
+$203k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,415
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$30,308
Natl Median: $30,572
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,673
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,202
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fire Protection
CertCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,436
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,033
Natl Median: $48,148
Lifetime Value Added
+$145k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,962
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $31,135
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,294
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
CertCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,757
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,996
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,932
Natl Median: $56,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$315k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,862
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,059
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,692
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,182
Natl Median: $47,825
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,467
Natl Median: $61,712
Lifetime Value Added
+$159k
Median Debt
$9,530
Earnings (4yr)
$61,118
Natl Median: $42,438
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$41,202
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Median Debt
$15,788
Earnings (4yr)
$64,068
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$164k
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$44,354
Natl Median: $45,283
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Biotechnology
AssocCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,595
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,145
Earnings (4yr)
$49,372
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$33,199
Natl Median: $37,587
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,066
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Programming
AssocCIP: 1102
Median Debt
$14,112
Earnings (4yr)
$70,139
Natl Median: $58,070
Lifetime Value Added
+$220k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,737
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$12,585
Earnings (4yr)
$61,544
Natl Median: $54,726
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,917
Natl Median: $72,110
Lifetime Value Added
+$172k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$9,511
Earnings (4yr)
$42,218
Natl Median: $39,605
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Median Debt
$11,999
Earnings (4yr)
$43,731
Natl Median: $61,982
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Median Debt
$10,168
Earnings (2yr)
$34,704
Natl Median: $38,127
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,087
Natl Median: $55,895
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,335
Natl Median: $67,792
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1504
Median Debt
$15,983
Earnings (4yr)
$71,497
Natl Median: $73,046
Lifetime Value Added
+$232k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,148
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,913
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fire Protection
AssocCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,589
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,668
Natl Median: $36,221
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Median Debt
$27,394
Earnings (4yr)
$43,732
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,099
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,593
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,129
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Median Debt
$10,402
Earnings (4yr)
$46,104
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Marketing
AssocCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$12,898
Earnings (4yr)
$39,638
Natl Median: $44,264
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$42,337
Natl Median: $45,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,888
Natl Median: $56,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k
Median Debt
$15,750
Earnings (4yr)
$67,604
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$197k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,002
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
AssocCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,162
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$10,000
Earnings (4yr)
$61,486
Natl Median: $58,424
Lifetime Value Added
+$140k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,964
Natl Median: $41,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,426
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,619
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,336
Natl Median: $56,308
Lifetime Value Added
-$384k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
DegCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,020
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

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 decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.