College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Lake Washington Institute of Technology

Kirkland, WA 2,179 Undergrads 48.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$15,351
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$5,886
After Aid
Median Earnings
$50,669
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$5,886
Peer Midpoint: $16,832
Earnings (10yr)$50,669
Peer Midpoint: $31,349
Graduation Rate48.4%
Peer Midpoint: 66.3%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients21.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time63.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS67.5%

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
+$533k
+$208k
+$48k
Median Cost$6k/yr
+$527k
+$202k
+$43k
Full Cost$15k/yr
+$518k
+$194k
+$34k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
26
∞
Median Cost$6k/yr
28
782%
Full Cost$15k/yr
31
238%
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 Return570%

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 Return83%
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

Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,816
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k

Associate's Degrees

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (5yr)
$47,177
Lifetime Value Added
+$163
Computer Software and Media Applications
AssocCIP: 1108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,869
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
AssocCIP: 1109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$66,282
Lifetime Value Added
+$180k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$76,602
Lifetime Value Added
+$271k
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1513
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,269
Lifetime Value Added
+$162k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,162
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
Precision Metal Working
AssocCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,957
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$13,986
Earnings (5yr)
$87,749
Lifetime Value Added
+$369k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,333
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k

Bachelor's Degrees

Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,539
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k

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.