College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Lake Superior College

Duluth, MN 2,456 Undergrads 39.0% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$20,049
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,050
After Aid
Median Earnings
$46,449
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$16,050
Peer Midpoint: $9,014
Earnings (10yr)$46,449
Peer Midpoint: $40,397
Graduation Rate39.0%
Peer Midpoint: 32.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients31.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time49.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS69.0%

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
+$462k
+$73k
-$22k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$433k
+$44k
-$52k
Full Cost$20k/yr
+$425k
+$36k
-$59k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
Never
-176%
Full Cost$20k/yr
Never
-161%
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-186%

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-88%
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
$13,500
Earnings (5yr)
$37,139
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
$11,288
Earnings (5yr)
$49,840
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,897
Lifetime Value Added
+$169k
Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services
CertCIP: 5135
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$13,785
Lifetime Value Added
-$328k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,332
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k

Associate's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
AssocCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,362
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$45,149
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$15,684
Earnings (5yr)
$60,083
Lifetime Value Added
+$105k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,798
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,997
Lifetime Value Added
-$811
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
AssocCIP: 1110
Median Debt
$13,500
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$52,053
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1513
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$80,317
Lifetime Value Added
+$285k
Legal Support Services
AssocCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$10,500
Earnings (5yr)
$46,075
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$20,125
Earnings (5yr)
$65,208
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,520
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k

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.