College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Porter & Chester Institute

Bridgeport, CT 1,405 Undergrads 53.1% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$25,552
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$17,332
After Aid
Median Earnings
$41,588
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$17,332
Peer Midpoint: $16,832
Earnings (10yr)$41,588
Peer Midpoint: $31,349
Graduation Rate53.1%
Peer Midpoint: 66.3%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients54.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time85.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS61.4%

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
+$443k
+$118k
-$41k
Median Cost$17k/yr
+$427k
+$102k
-$57k
Full Cost$26k/yr
+$419k
+$95k
-$65k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$17k/yr
Never
-357%
Full Cost$26k/yr
Never
-275%
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-407%

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-139%
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 and Medical Assisting Services
CertCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$9,500
Earnings (5yr)
$38,066
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
CertCIP: 1109
Median Debt
$13,910
Earnings (5yr)
$51,208
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$9,500
Earnings (5yr)
$32,745
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1513
Median Debt
$13,880
Earnings (5yr)
$50,674
Lifetime Value Added
+$73k
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
CertCIP: 4603
Median Debt
$14,120
Earnings (5yr)
$55,238
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technology
CertCIP: 4701
Median Debt
$12,360
Earnings (5yr)
$50,269
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
CertCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$9,500
Earnings (5yr)
$31,300
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)
CertCIP: 4702
Median Debt
$14,120
Earnings (5yr)
$56,898
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
$17,690
Earnings (5yr)
$56,166
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$13,910
Earnings (5yr)
$43,193
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k

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.