College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Rochester Community and Technical College

Rochester, MN 3,122 Undergrads 31.3% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$17,814
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,148
After Aid
Median Earnings
$45,287
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$13,148
Peer Midpoint: $9,014
Earnings (10yr)$45,287
Peer Midpoint: $40,397
Graduation Rate31.3%
Peer Midpoint: 32.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients41.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time44.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS66.5%

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
+$451k
+$62k
-$33k
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$427k
+$38k
-$57k
Full Cost$18k/yr
+$418k
+$30k
-$66k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$13k/yr
Never
-237%
Full Cost$18k/yr
Never
-201%
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-257%

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-100%
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
-
Earnings (5yr)
$39,395
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection
CertCIP: 4604
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$75,809
Lifetime Value Added
+$326k
Carpenters
CertCIP: 4602
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,648
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
CertCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$19,395
Earnings (5yr)
$42,279
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (5yr)
$47,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$39,904
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$54,143
Lifetime Value Added
+$113k

Associate's Degrees

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (5yr)
$57,715
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection
AssocCIP: 4604
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$73,597
Lifetime Value Added
+$231k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$12,875
Earnings (5yr)
$50,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
AssocCIP: 5204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,671
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$52,390
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,236
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$21,125
Earnings (5yr)
$49,258
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$217k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$45,191
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
AssocCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$15,250
Earnings (5yr)
$53,657
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$18,145
Earnings (5yr)
$78,692
Lifetime Value Added
+$276k
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 0183
Median Debt
$14,599
Earnings (5yr)
$41,491
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k

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.