Back to Colleges
Red Rocks Community College
Lakewood, CO 4,889 Undergrads 31.6% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$18,143
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$9,044
After Aid
Median Earnings
$62,695
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$9,044
Peer Midpoint: $17,333.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$62,695
Peer Midpoint: $34,461
Graduation Rate31.6%
Peer Midpoint: 68.7%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients29.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time36.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS65.0%
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
+$708k
+$317k
+$224k
Median Cost$9k/yr
+$700k
+$308k
+$215k
Full Cost$18k/yr
+$691k
+$300k
+$207k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
20
∞
Median Cost$9k/yr
21
2567%
Full Cost$18k/yr
22
1230%
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 Return2509%
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 Return543%
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)
$46,379
Natl Median: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
CertCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
CertCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$9,500
Earnings (4yr)
$116,766
Natl Median: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
+$741k
Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems
CertCIP: 5133
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,403
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection
CertCIP: 4604
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,472
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $38,675
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Programming
CertCIP: 1102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,556
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Software and Media Applications
CertCIP: 1108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,400
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
CertCIP: 1109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,162
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
CertCIP: 1204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $26,307
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections
CertCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$88,122
Natl Median: $57,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$464k
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)
-
Natl Median: $33,673
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1513
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
CertCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $31,337
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
CertCIP: 4603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,078
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1505
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,268
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
CertCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,263
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
CertCIP: 5006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,800
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fire Protection
CertCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,262
Natl Median: $62,436
Lifetime Value Added
+$169k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
CertCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Homeland Security
CertCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,995
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,054
Natl Median: $56,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$219k
Real Estate
CertCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,762
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
CertCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,020
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
CertCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$36,174
Natl Median: $34,631
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Woodworking
CertCIP: 4807
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,664
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Associate's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
AssocCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,598
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$13,600
Earnings (4yr)
$68,434
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$205k
Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems
AssocCIP: 5133
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $30,016
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection
AssocCIP: 4604
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Natl Median: $59,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,231
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
+$54k
Computer Programming
AssocCIP: 1102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,070
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Software and Media Applications
AssocCIP: 1108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,737
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
AssocCIP: 1109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,093
Natl Median: $54,971
Lifetime Value Added
+$274k
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
AssocCIP: 1204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $27,014
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$86,955
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$356k
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1513
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,049
Natl Median: $55,895
Lifetime Value Added
+$145k
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
AssocCIP: 4603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$49,683
Natl Median: $70,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1517
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1505
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,483
Natl Median: $55,148
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
AssocCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,169
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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 (5yr)
$61,859
Natl Median: $73,589
Lifetime Value Added
+$134k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,435
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Homeland Security
AssocCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,829
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$8,985
Earnings (4yr)
$48,034
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies
AssocCIP: 3101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,310
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Precision Metal Working
AssocCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
AssocCIP: 0907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,074
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Real Estate
AssocCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,327
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Science Technologies/Technicians, Other
AssocCIP: 4199
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,780
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
AssocCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Natl Median: $37,656
Lifetime Value Added
-$264k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,424
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Woodworking
AssocCIP: 4807
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,867
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Bachelor's Degrees
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1505
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,185
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.