College ROI

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Pima Community College

Tucson, AZ 14,242 Undergrads 20.5% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$9,851
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$3,405
After Aid
Median Earnings
$50,345
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$3,405
Peer Midpoint: $9,847
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$50,345
Peer Midpoint: $50,128
Warning: This school's reported earnings inflated significantly (+26%) when the Dept of Education excluded non-graduates from the dataset. Take caution when comparing.
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$39,810
Peer Midpoint: $40,451
Graduation Rate20.5%
Peer Midpoint: 34.6%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age24.7
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 Recipients38.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time24.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS58.6%

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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$536k
+$20k
+$51k
Median Cost$3k/yr
+$530k
+$14k
+$45k
Full Cost$10k/yr
+$518k
+$2k
+$33k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
31
∞
Median Cost$3k/yr
33
722%
Full Cost$10k/yr
37
184%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return471%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return91%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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
$6,278
Earnings (4yr)
$46,305
Natl Median: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k
Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,658
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biotechnology
CertCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,955
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,589
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,681
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$16,677
Natl Median: $38,675
Lifetime Value Added
-$283k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,083
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,363
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,615
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,427
Natl Median: $57,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$326k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $30,572
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,388
Natl Median: $33,673
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,116
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,078
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,816
Natl Median: $43,027
Lifetime Value Added
+$242k
Fire Protection
CertCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,270
Natl Median: $62,436
Lifetime Value Added
+$155k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,345
Natl Median: $52,118
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$18,771
Natl Median: $27,180
Lifetime Value Added
-$247k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$34,908
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,833
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,148
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,355
Natl Median: $40,962
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,382
Natl Median: $61,907
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,747
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,906
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,242
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,531
Natl Median: $63,413
Lifetime Value Added
+$259k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$15,288
Natl Median: $43,365
Lifetime Value Added
-$288k
Median Debt
$9,500
Earnings (4yr)
$66,324
Natl Median: $56,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$257k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,296
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
CertCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$34,968
Natl Median: $43,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $29,652
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,019
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
CertCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$32,071
Natl Median: $37,647
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,631
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,570
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$7,375
Earnings (4yr)
$65,151
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
+$245k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$32,909
Natl Median: $34,862
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,471
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$7,000
Earnings (4yr)
$71,544
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$244k
Anthropology
AssocCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,638
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,216
Natl Median: $59,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,587
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$6,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,551
Natl Median: $49,927
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,472
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,167
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$4,900
Earnings (4yr)
$49,524
Natl Median: $54,971
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
Median Debt
$4,500
Earnings (4yr)
$49,865
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$34,298
Natl Median: $39,605
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Median Debt
$8,731
Earnings (4yr)
$72,213
Natl Median: $61,982
Lifetime Value Added
+$250k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$30,813
Natl Median: $38,127
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $55,895
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Education, General
AssocCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,020
Natl Median: $41,787
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,241
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, General
AssocCIP: 1401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$83,007
Natl Median: $72,916
Lifetime Value Added
+$332k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $38,387
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,186
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fire Protection
AssocCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,557
Natl Median: $73,589
Lifetime Value Added
+$217k
Median Debt
$9,125
Earnings (4yr)
$48,412
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,099
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,049
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Median Debt
$6,856
Earnings (4yr)
$46,830
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,796
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$5,250
Earnings (4yr)
$35,593
Natl Median: $40,734
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,147
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,450
Natl Median: $56,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Median Debt
$12,125
Earnings (4yr)
$86,300
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$376k
Sociology
AssocCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,144
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $29,755
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,002
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,247
Natl Median: $37,656
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$4,937
Earnings (4yr)
$60,296
Natl Median: $58,424
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
Median Debt
$7,000
Earnings (4yr)
$42,889
Natl Median: $41,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Median Debt
$7,000
Earnings (5yr)
$19,980
Natl Median: $32,799
Lifetime Value Added
-$268k

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Education, Other
PB-CertCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,531
Natl Median: $56,674
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,327
Natl Median: $63,623
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,934
Natl Median: $58,414
Lifetime Value Added
-$198k

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,488
Natl Median: $56,308
Lifetime Value Added
-$294k

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.