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Portland Community College
Portland, OR 19,531 Undergrads 19.5% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$17,934
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$10,405
After Aid
Median Earnings
$55,238
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$10,405
Peer Midpoint: $9,847
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$55,238
Peer Midpoint: $50,127.5
Graduation Rate19.5%
Peer Midpoint: 34.6%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients34.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time40.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS60.5%
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
+$583k
+$68k
+$99k
Median Cost$10k/yr
+$564k
+$49k
+$80k
Full Cost$18k/yr
+$550k
+$35k
+$66k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
26
∞
Median Cost$10k/yr
30
418%
Full Cost$18k/yr
32
201%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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 Return484%
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 Return69%
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
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,981
Natl Median: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
CertCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$8,750
Earnings (4yr)
$45,601
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
CertCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$92,397
Natl Median: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
+$486k
American Sign Language
CertCIP: 1616
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,771
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services
CertCIP: 0106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
CertCIP: 5204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,158
Natl Median: $32,681
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Computer Programming
CertCIP: 1102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,990
Natl Median: $56,556
Lifetime Value Added
+$257k
Computer Software and Media Applications
CertCIP: 1108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,400
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Construction Trades, General
CertCIP: 4600
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,529
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections
CertCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,702
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Culinary Arts and Related Services
CertCIP: 1205
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $30,572
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,540
Natl Median: $33,673
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Design and Applied Arts
CertCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,944
Natl Median: $36,116
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1513
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
CertCIP: 2613
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,394
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fire Protection
CertCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,436
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Geography and Cartography
CertCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$67,492
Natl Median: $58,705
Lifetime Value Added
+$262k
Graphic Communications
CertCIP: 1003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,130
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)
CertCIP: 4702
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,148
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,294
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Legal Support Services
CertCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,747
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
CertCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,906
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Management Information Systems and Services
CertCIP: 5212
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,682
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
CertCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,757
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,285
Natl Median: $43,365
Lifetime Value Added
+$180k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
CertCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$30,833
Natl Median: $37,647
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,231
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
+$199k
Associate's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
AssocCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,211
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Air Transportation
AssocCIP: 4901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,495
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$87,002
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$370k
American Sign Language
AssocCIP: 1616
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,886
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services
AssocCIP: 0106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Natl Median: $45,283
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
AssocCIP: 1405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$81,975
Natl Median: $78,651
Lifetime Value Added
+$310k
Biotechnology
AssocCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,595
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection
AssocCIP: 4604
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$93,597
Natl Median: $59,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$429k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$12,800
Earnings (4yr)
$59,792
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
+$123k
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
AssocCIP: 5204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$33,189
Natl Median: $37,587
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,432
Natl Median: $64,519
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,948
Natl Median: $57,472
Lifetime Value Added
+$208k
Computer Programming
AssocCIP: 1102
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$63,566
Natl Median: $58,070
Lifetime Value Added
+$159k
Computer Software and Media Applications
AssocCIP: 1108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,183
Natl Median: $41,737
Lifetime Value Added
+$155k
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
AssocCIP: 1110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,804
Natl Median: $54,726
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
AssocCIP: 1510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$18,584
Earnings (4yr)
$55,469
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$16,625
Earnings (4yr)
$73,457
Natl Median: $61,982
Lifetime Value Added
+$248k
Design and Applied Arts
AssocCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$17,506
Earnings (4yr)
$50,811
Natl Median: $38,127
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1513
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,324
Natl Median: $55,895
Lifetime Value Added
+$70k
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
AssocCIP: 2613
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,197
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,545
Natl Median: $67,792
Lifetime Value Added
+$276k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
AssocCIP: 5006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,186
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fire Protection
AssocCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Natl Median: $73,589
Lifetime Value Added
+$70k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,279
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$71k
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)
AssocCIP: 4702
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$51,482
Natl Median: $58,236
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Homeland Security
AssocCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,829
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$86,031
Natl Median: $73,593
Lifetime Value Added
+$361k
Legal Support Services
AssocCIP: 2203
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$60,004
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$12,448
Earnings (4yr)
$49,166
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Marketing
AssocCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,264
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1508
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$63,005
Natl Median: $64,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$177k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,652
Natl Median: $40,734
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
Music
AssocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,056
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5118
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,972
Natl Median: $48,724
Lifetime Value Added
-$986
Precision Metal Working
AssocCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,659
Natl Median: $56,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$169k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$21,634
Earnings (4yr)
$101,099
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$496k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
AssocCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$30,736
Natl Median: $40,162
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
AssocCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Natl Median: $37,656
Lifetime Value Added
-$224k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$12,666
Earnings (4yr)
$71,462
Natl Median: $58,424
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 0183
Median Debt
$19,999
Earnings (4yr)
$49,418
Natl Median: $41,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Other Programs
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
DegCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,308
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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 degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.