College ROI

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Northcentral Technical College

Wausau, WI 3,257 Undergrads 51.7% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$17,741
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,582
After Aid
Median Earnings
$53,555
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$12,582
Peer Midpoint: $17,726
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$53,555
Peer Midpoint: $36,184
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$46,066
Peer Midpoint: $36,543
Graduation Rate51.7%
Peer Midpoint: 69.9%
Average Starting Age26.3
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients35.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time31.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS67.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 1 Year to Graduation

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
+$606k
+$202k
+$119k
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$594k
+$190k
+$108k
Full Cost$18k/yr
+$589k
+$185k
+$103k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
22
∞
Median Cost$13k/yr
24
923%
Full Cost$18k/yr
24
626%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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 Return1302%

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 Return237%
Warning: Read this ROI with care. Most awards here are certificates, so the model prices a one-year program. The earnings figure covers every graduate, including those who finished longer associate programs that pay more. That mix can make the NPV, Social ROI and Pell ROI look much higher than a typical certificate student will see.

Program ROI Analysis

These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →

Certificates

Median Debt
$6,875
Earnings (4yr)
$39,016
Natl Median: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$38,436
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
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Median Debt
$5,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,626
Natl Median: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
+$130k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,752
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,681
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,478
Natl Median: $38,675
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,038
Natl Median: $56,556
Lifetime Value Added
+$278k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,942
Natl Median: $41,400
Lifetime Value Added
+$234k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,882
Natl Median: $52,615
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$67,938
Natl Median: $57,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$267k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $30,572
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,326
Natl Median: $33,673
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,126
Natl Median: $53,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$208k
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Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,027
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,001
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,118
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $27,180
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$7,500
Earnings (4yr)
$43,602
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
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Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,199
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,907
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,294
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
CertCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,820
Natl Median: $49,757
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
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Median Debt
$7,628
Earnings (4yr)
$39,404
Natl Median: $43,365
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,996
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$3,500
Earnings (4yr)
$42,038
Natl Median: $56,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
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Median Debt
$5,125
Earnings (4yr)
$52,792
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,060
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4704
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,900
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,511
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,348
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
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Woodworking
CertCIP: 4807
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,664
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,806
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,825
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$33,350
Natl Median: $42,438
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,158
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
+$171k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,134
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,886
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Animal Sciences
AssocCIP: 0109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,282
Natl Median: $38,658
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,685
Natl Median: $55,767
Lifetime Value Added
+$167k
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Median Debt
$8,500
Earnings (4yr)
$47,392
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
-$688
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,587
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,472
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Programming
AssocCIP: 1102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$67,224
Natl Median: $58,070
Lifetime Value Added
+$190k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,750
Natl Median: $54,971
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,726
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,411
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$9k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,605
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$9,603
Earnings (4yr)
$61,466
Natl Median: $61,982
Lifetime Value Added
+$136k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,412
Natl Median: $55,895
Lifetime Value Added
+$155k
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Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,018
Natl Median: $73,046
Lifetime Value Added
+$113k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,095
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,186
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,995
Natl Median: $36,221
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,576
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,593
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,556
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
AssocCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,143
Natl Median: $44,264
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
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Median Debt
$10,000
Earnings (4yr)
$40,958
Natl Median: $40,734
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,491
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
AssocCIP: 0111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,971
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,721
Natl Median: $56,451
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,094
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$9,625
Earnings (4yr)
$66,099
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$180k
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Median Debt
$5,500
Earnings (4yr)
$27,446
Natl Median: $37,656
Lifetime Value Added
-$204k
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Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,691
Natl Median: $58,424
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
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Woodworking
AssocCIP: 4807
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,867
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 decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.