College ROI

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MiraCosta College

Oceanside, CA 10,278 Undergrads 28.3% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$15,531
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$7,339
After Aid
Median Earnings
$PS
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$7,339
Peer Midpoint: $17,333.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$PS
Peer Midpoint: $34,461
Graduation Rate28.3%
Peer Midpoint: 68.7%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients29.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time42.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS61.4%

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
N/A
N/A
N/A
Median Cost$7k/yr
N/A
N/A
N/A
Full Cost$16k/yr
N/A
N/A
N/A

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
N/A
N/A
Median Cost$7k/yr
N/A
N/A
Full Cost$16k/yr
N/A
N/A
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%.
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

Associate's Degrees

Biological and Physical Sciences
AssocCIP: 3001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,078
Natl Median: $50,181
Lifetime Value Added
+$54k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,778
Natl Median: $47,793
Lifetime Value Added
+$136k
Communication and Media Studies
AssocCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,866
Natl Median: $43,243
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,123
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$91,941
Natl Median: $79,637
Lifetime Value Added
+$403k
Sociology
AssocCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,144
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.