College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Pitt Community College

Winterville, NC 5,175 Undergrads 26.5% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$15,807
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$7,150
After Aid
Median Earnings
$37,259
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$7,150
Peer Midpoint: $9,014
Earnings (10yr)$37,259
Peer Midpoint: $40,397
Graduation Rate26.5%
Peer Midpoint: 32.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients51.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time42.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS48.2%

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
+$376k
-$13k
-$108k
Median Cost$7k/yr
+$363k
-$26k
-$121k
Full Cost$16k/yr
+$347k
-$42k
-$137k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$7k/yr
Never
-925%
Full Cost$16k/yr
Never
-473%
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-741%

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-195%
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

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
CertCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$9,500
Earnings (5yr)
$74,114
Lifetime Value Added
+$315k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
CertCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,058
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
CertCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$11,123
Earnings (5yr)
$34,105
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
CertCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,932
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,410
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
CertCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$14,700
Earnings (5yr)
$27,744
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k

Associate's Degrees

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$12,350
Earnings (5yr)
$36,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$11,846
Earnings (5yr)
$61,502
Lifetime Value Added
+$134k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$21,201
Earnings (5yr)
$34,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
AssocCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,213
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (5yr)
$40,672
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$18,685
Earnings (5yr)
$36,130
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Legal Support Services
AssocCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$27,669
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$11,799
Earnings (5yr)
$44,058
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$31,504
Earnings (5yr)
$28,449
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
Precision Metal Working
AssocCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,985
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$12,617
Earnings (5yr)
$70,703
Lifetime Value Added
+$217k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
AssocCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$27,258
Lifetime Value Added
-$201k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,340
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k

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.