College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Pierpont Community and Technical College

Fairmont, WV 906 Undergrads 34.3% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$13,434
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$9,096
After Aid
Median Earnings
$35,132
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$9,096
Peer Midpoint: $16,832
Earnings (10yr)$35,132
Peer Midpoint: $31,349
Graduation Rate34.3%
Peer Midpoint: 66.3%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients53.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time76.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS51.9%

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
+$378k
+$54k
-$106k
Median Cost$9k/yr
+$370k
+$45k
-$114k
Full Cost$13k/yr
+$366k
+$41k
-$118k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$9k/yr
Never
-1356%
Full Cost$13k/yr
Never
-950%
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-1643%

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-361%
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

Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$33,434
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
$16,101
Earnings (2yr)
$29,141
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k

Associate's Degrees

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$13,271
Earnings (5yr)
$51,476
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
Business/Commerce, General
AssocCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$14,920
Earnings (5yr)
$30,992
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
AssocCIP: 1109
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,345
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,260
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Culinary Arts and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1205
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$37,821
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
AssocCIP: 4603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$131,521
Lifetime Value Added
+$746k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,442
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$26,725
Lifetime Value Added
-$210k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$10,340
Earnings (5yr)
$35,489
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
Mining and Petroleum Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1509
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$91,275
Lifetime Value Added
+$394k
Science Technologies/Technicians, Other
AssocCIP: 4199
Median Debt
$10,266
Earnings (5yr)
$66,345
Lifetime Value Added
+$175k
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 0183
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$31,673
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k

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.