College ROI

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Northwest Iowa Community College

Sheldon, IA 864 Undergrads 58.8% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$18,827
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,665
After Aid
Median Earnings
$61,428
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$12,665
Peer Midpoint: $9,956
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$61,428
Peer Midpoint: $51,775
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$56,288
Peer Midpoint: $45,130
Graduation Rate58.8%
Peer Midpoint: 35.7%
Average Starting Age23.1
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients36.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time69.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS79.0%

Admissions Profile

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

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 2 Years 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
+$634k
+$110k
+$148k
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$611k
+$87k
+$125k
Full Cost$19k/yr
+$600k
+$76k
+$113k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
24
∞
Median Cost$13k/yr
27
535%
Full Cost$19k/yr
28
327%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
  • 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 Return718%

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 Return122%

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
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,681
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$5,500
Earnings (4yr)
$96,897
Natl Median: $53,078
Lifetime Value Added
+$549k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$8,750
Earnings (4yr)
$63,862
Natl Median: $56,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$226k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,481
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
+$202k

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Agriculture, General
AssocCIP: 0100
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,683
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $47,650
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,587
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$82,018
Natl Median: $70,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$323k
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$64,493
Natl Median: $67,792
Lifetime Value Added
+$189k
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,319
Natl Median: $63,241
Lifetime Value Added
+$182k
Ground Transportation
AssocCIP: 4902
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,286
Natl Median: $59,881
Lifetime Value Added
+$236k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$6,500
Earnings (4yr)
$44,666
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Median Debt
$13,350
Earnings (4yr)
$64,337
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$163k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,907
Natl Median: $58,424
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k

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.