Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, TX 45,188 Undergrads 20.2% Grad Rate

School Website|Financial Calculator

Total Cost

$15,521

Sticker Price

Avg Net Price

$11,252

After Aid

Median Earnings

$52,634

4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$11,252

Peer Midpoint: $9,847

Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$52,634

Peer Midpoint: $50,127.5

Graduation Rate20.2%

Peer Midpoint: 34.6%

Socio-Economic Diversity

Pell Grant Recipients33.9%

Enrollment Status

Full-Time36.1%

Economic Outcomes

Earn More than HS54.4%

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

+$558k

+$43k

+$74k

Median Cost$11k/yr

+$537k

+$22k

+$53k

Full Cost$16k/yr

+$530k

+$14k

+$45k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age

Return on Inv. %

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

∞

Median Cost$11k/yr

257%

Full Cost$16k/yr

159%

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 Return409%

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 Return55%

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

Accounting and Related Services

CertCIP: 5203

Median Debt

$5,500

Earnings (4yr)

$46,136

Natl Median: $44,589

Lifetime Value Added

+$40k

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services

CertCIP: 5108

Median Debt

$5,625

Earnings (4yr)

$40,990

Natl Median: $34,272

Lifetime Value Added

-$15k

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions

CertCIP: 5109

Median Debt

$5,250

Earnings (4yr)

$82,476

Natl Median: $57,584

Lifetime Value Added

+$407k

American Sign Language

CertCIP: 1616

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $41,771

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians

CertCIP: 4101

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $51,658

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Business Administration, Management and Operations

CertCIP: 5202

Median Debt

$7,000

Earnings (4yr)

$41,600

Natl Median: $47,440

Lifetime Value Added

-$9k

Business Operations Support and Assistant Services

CertCIP: 5204

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$41,910

Natl Median: $32,681

Lifetime Value Added

-$14k

Computer and Information Sciences, General

CertCIP: 1101

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$43,120

Natl Median: $50,984

Lifetime Value Added

+$8k

Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services

CertCIP: 1204

Median Debt

$5,399

Earnings (4yr)

$20,853

Natl Median: $26,307

Lifetime Value Added

-$239k

Educational/Instructional Media Design

CertCIP: 1305

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$32,276

Natl Median: $53,869

Lifetime Value Added

-$118k

Electrical and Power Transmission Installers

CertCIP: 4603

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $53,078

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians

CertCIP: 1511

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $62,447

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Fire Protection

CertCIP: 4302

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$66,236

Natl Median: $62,436

Lifetime Value Added

+$236k

Geography and Cartography

CertCIP: 4507

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $58,705

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Health and Medical Administrative Services

CertCIP: 5107

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $35,447

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)

CertCIP: 4702

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$47,451

Natl Median: $48,148

Lifetime Value Added

+$54k

Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians

CertCIP: 1506

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$71,664

Natl Median: $57,294

Lifetime Value Added

+$302k

Legal Support Services

CertCIP: 2203

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$53,690

Natl Median: $49,747

Lifetime Value Added

+$121k

Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions

CertCIP: 5115

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $43,365

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Mining and Petroleum Technologies/Technicians

CertCIP: 1509

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $72,032

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

CertCIP: 5139

Median Debt

$9,312

Earnings (4yr)

$67,278

Natl Median: $56,073

Lifetime Value Added

+$259k

Precision Metal Working

CertCIP: 4805

Median Debt

$3,500

Earnings (4yr)

$53,293

Natl Median: $48,702

Lifetime Value Added

+$117k

Radio, Television, and Digital Communication

CertCIP: 0907

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $33,711

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

CertCIP: 5138

Median Debt

$6,750

Earnings (4yr)

$83,636

Natl Median: $80,020

Lifetime Value Added

+$418k

Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services

CertCIP: 5135

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $29,652

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians

CertCIP: 4706

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$40,319

Natl Median: $51,586

Lifetime Value Added

-$23k

Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians

CertCIP: 0183

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$49,612

Natl Median: $34,862

Lifetime Value Added

+$78k

Associate's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services

AssocCIP: 5203

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$37,632

Natl Median: $47,660

Lifetime Value Added

-$96k

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services

AssocCIP: 5108

Median Debt

$8,042

Earnings (4yr)

$54,262

Natl Median: $42,269

Lifetime Value Added

+$69k

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions

AssocCIP: 5109

Median Debt

$8,453

Earnings (4yr)

$73,655

Natl Median: $65,389

Lifetime Value Added

+$248k

American Sign Language

AssocCIP: 1616

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$9,167

Natl Median: $37,886

Lifetime Value Added

-$392k

Biology, General

AssocCIP: 2601

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $44,758

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians

AssocCIP: 4101

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $51,168

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Business Administration, Management and Operations

AssocCIP: 5202

Median Debt

$11,375

Earnings (4yr)

$46,772

Natl Median: $48,733

Lifetime Value Added

-$5k

Business Operations Support and Assistant Services

AssocCIP: 5204

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $37,587

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Business/Commerce, General

AssocCIP: 5201

Median Debt

$6,750

Earnings (4yr)

$50,531

Natl Median: $49,927

Lifetime Value Added

+$33k

Communication and Media Studies

AssocCIP: 0901

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $43,243

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Computer and Information Sciences, General

AssocCIP: 1101

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$50,935

Natl Median: $54,246

Lifetime Value Added

+$37k

Computer Science

AssocCIP: 1107

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $62,283

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services

AssocCIP: 1204

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $27,014

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Criminal Justice and Corrections

AssocCIP: 4301

Median Debt

$9,091

Earnings (4yr)

$44,057

Natl Median: $46,706

Lifetime Value Added

-$32k

Dental Support Services and Allied Professions

AssocCIP: 5106

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$58,154

Natl Median: $61,982

Lifetime Value Added

+$106k

Educational/Instructional Media Design

AssocCIP: 1305

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$34,994

Natl Median: $41,929

Lifetime Value Added

-$123k

Electrical and Power Transmission Installers

AssocCIP: 4603

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $70,808

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians

AssocCIP: 1503

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $67,792

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians

AssocCIP: 1511

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $66,570

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Engineering, General

AssocCIP: 1401

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $72,916

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Fire Protection

AssocCIP: 4302

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $73,589

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Geography and Cartography

AssocCIP: 4507

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $53,052

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Health and Medical Administrative Services

AssocCIP: 5107

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $37,073

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)

AssocCIP: 4702

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$42,682

Natl Median: $58,236

Lifetime Value Added

-$28k

Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians

AssocCIP: 1506

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$53,830

Natl Median: $73,593

Lifetime Value Added

+$65k

Legal Support Services

AssocCIP: 2203

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$44,720

Natl Median: $44,669

Lifetime Value Added

-$34k

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

AssocCIP: 2401

Median Debt

$7,750

Earnings (4yr)

$47,859

Natl Median: $44,125

Lifetime Value Added

+$6k

Mechanical Engineering

AssocCIP: 1419

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $72,444

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions

AssocCIP: 5115

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$32,945

Natl Median: $40,734

Lifetime Value Added

-$151k

Mining and Petroleum Technologies/Technicians

AssocCIP: 1509

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $77,878

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Music

AssocCIP: 5009

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $34,056

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Physical Science Technologies/Technicians

AssocCIP: 4103

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $80,768

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Precision Metal Working

AssocCIP: 4805

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$32,422

Natl Median: $56,451

Lifetime Value Added

-$156k

Radio, Television, and Digital Communication

AssocCIP: 0907

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $36,074

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

AssocCIP: 5138

Median Debt

$9,000

Earnings (4yr)

$93,665

Natl Median: $80,813

Lifetime Value Added

+$428k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

AssocCIP: 1312

Median Debt

$7,687

Earnings (4yr)

$53,830

Natl Median: $37,656

Lifetime Value Added

+$65k

Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians

AssocCIP: 4706

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$37,117

Natl Median: $58,424

Lifetime Value Added

-$109k

Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians

AssocCIP: 0183

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$48,427

Natl Median: $41,460

Lifetime Value Added

+$12k

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Accounting and Related Services

PB-CertCIP: 5203

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $86,165

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 degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.