College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Northwood Technical College

Rice Lake, WI 2,026 Undergrads 59.0% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$14,116
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$8,892
After Aid
Median Earnings
$43,406
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$8,892
Peer Midpoint: $16,832
Earnings (10yr)$43,406
Peer Midpoint: $31,349
Graduation Rate59.0%
Peer Midpoint: 66.3%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients39.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time41.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS70.5%

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
+$461k
+$136k
-$23k
Median Cost$9k/yr
+$453k
+$128k
-$32k
Full Cost$14k/yr
+$448k
+$123k
-$36k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$9k/yr
Never
-383%
Full Cost$14k/yr
Never
-278%
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-398%

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-118%
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
$9,917
Earnings (5yr)
$39,589
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
CertCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$5,500
Earnings (5yr)
$34,542
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
CertCIP: 1204
Median Debt
$5,500
Earnings (5yr)
$27,307
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Gerontology
CertCIP: 3011
Median Debt
$8,250
Earnings (5yr)
$30,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
CertCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$8,000
Earnings (5yr)
$34,744
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies
CertCIP: 4703
Median Debt
$8,500
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Lifetime Value Added
+$184k
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
$5,500
Earnings (5yr)
$57,622
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
$5,500
Earnings (5yr)
$51,373
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$5,500
Earnings (5yr)
$57,842
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k

Associate's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
AssocCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$10,003
Earnings (5yr)
$41,572
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,570
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
AssocCIP: 5204
Median Debt
$13,667
Earnings (5yr)
$41,464
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
AssocCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,909
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$9,434
Earnings (2yr)
$38,313
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (2yr)
$20,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$256k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$9,819
Earnings (5yr)
$38,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$9,167
Earnings (5yr)
$68,980
Lifetime Value Added
+$198k

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.