College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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North Iowa Area Community College

Mason City, IA 1,320 Undergrads 41.1% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$17,040
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$10,010
After Aid
Median Earnings
$47,068
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$10,010
Peer Midpoint: $9,847
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$47,068
Peer Midpoint: $50,127.5
Graduation Rate41.1%
Peer Midpoint: 34.6%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients38.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time78.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS65.6%

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
+$503k
-$12k
+$19k
Median Cost$10k/yr
+$485k
-$30k
+$692
Full Cost$17k/yr
+$472k
-$43k
-$12k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
39
Median Cost$10k/yr
63
4%
Full Cost$17k/yr
Never
-39%
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 Return40%

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-33%
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Agricultural Production Operations
CertCIP: 0103
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,010
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
CertCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$34,878
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Carpenters
CertCIP: 4602
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,835
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
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,199
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,894
Natl Median: $56,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,284
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
CertCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,631
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
AssocCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Agricultural Business and Management
AssocCIP: 0101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,200
Natl Median: $47,825
Lifetime Value Added
+$135k
Agricultural Production Operations
AssocCIP: 0103
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,438
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,751
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
+$76k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
AssocCIP: 5204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,587
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
AssocCIP: 1109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,971
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
AssocCIP: 1110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,726
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,706
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
Graphic Communications
AssocCIP: 1003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,221
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)
$36,183
Natl Median: $58,236
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,017
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Legal Support Services
AssocCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$8,250
Earnings (4yr)
$43,023
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Precision Metal Working
AssocCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $56,451
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$13,250
Earnings (4yr)
$67,487
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$195k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
AssocCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,162
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$6,238
Earnings (4yr)
$54,985
Natl Median: $58,424
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k

Other Programs

Accounting and Related Services
DegCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,933
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
DegCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,021
Natl Median: $58,292
Lifetime Value Added
-$413k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
DegCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,426
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
DegCIP: 1109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,614
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
DegCIP: 5207
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,740
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Graphic Communications
DegCIP: 1003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $27,684
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Services, General
DegCIP: 4400
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
DegCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,308
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
DegCIP: 5139
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,818
Natl Median: $50,791
Lifetime Value Added
-$423k
Precision Metal Working
DegCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,120
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.