College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Mesa Community College

Mesa, AZ 12,049 Undergrads 21.6% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$18,975
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,438
After Aid
Median Earnings
$44,034
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$13,438
Peer Midpoint: $16,832
Earnings (10yr)$44,034
Peer Midpoint: $31,349
Graduation Rate21.6%
Peer Midpoint: 66.3%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients27.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time34.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS63.5%

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
+$467k
+$143k
-$17k
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$455k
+$130k
-$30k
Full Cost$19k/yr
+$450k
+$125k
-$35k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$13k/yr
Never
-237%
Full Cost$19k/yr
Never
-197%
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-256%

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-100%
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 Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
CertCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,973
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
Business/Commerce, General
CertCIP: 5201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,140
Lifetime Value Added
+$163k
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
CertCIP: 1109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,438
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
CertCIP: 1110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,417
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Design and Applied Arts
CertCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$38,909
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Fine and Studio Arts
CertCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,745
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
Fire Protection
CertCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,635
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
Natural Sciences
CertCIP: 3018
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,826
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k

Associate's Degrees

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,889
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,624
Lifetime Value Added
+$105k
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
AssocCIP: 1109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,456
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,391
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
Design and Applied Arts
AssocCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,530
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science
AssocCIP: 1203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,851
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Ground Transportation
AssocCIP: 4902
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$49,019
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$9,000
Earnings (5yr)
$49,609
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Physical Sciences
AssocCIP: 4001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,579
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Precision Metal Working
AssocCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,052
Lifetime Value Added
+$90k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$6,606
Earnings (5yr)
$80,387
Lifetime Value Added
+$291k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
AssocCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,069
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 0183
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,459
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k

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.