College ROI

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Salt Lake Community College

Salt Lake City, UT 18,136 Undergrads 26.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$14,417
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$9,804
After Aid
Median Earnings
$55,279
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$9,804
Peer Midpoint: $9,847
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$55,279
Peer Midpoint: $50,128
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$47,867
Peer Midpoint: $40,451
Graduation Rate26.4%
Peer Midpoint: 34.6%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age25.1
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients25.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time33.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS67.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 2 Years to Graduation

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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$584k
+$68k
+$99k
Median Cost$10k/yr
+$566k
+$50k
+$81k
Full Cost$14k/yr
+$557k
+$42k
+$73k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
26
∞
Median Cost$10k/yr
29
452%
Full Cost$14k/yr
31
275%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return629%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return111%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Air Transportation
CertCIP: 4901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $38,259
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,314
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,223
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,097
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$8,783
Earnings (4yr)
$75,197
Natl Median: $50,984
Lifetime Value Added
+$337k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,400
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,116
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,447
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,130
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,148
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$5,375
Earnings (4yr)
$52,726
Natl Median: $44,906
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
Marketing
CertCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,757
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,561
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,963
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,603
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,296
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,391
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
+$219k

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Air Transportation
AssocCIP: 4901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,495
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$7,819
Earnings (4yr)
$40,799
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Median Debt
$10,083
Earnings (4yr)
$74,178
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$256k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,886
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
AssocCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,638
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,403
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$36,824
Natl Median: $35,660
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Biology, General
AssocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,740
Natl Median: $44,758
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,168
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,378
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$9,053
Earnings (4yr)
$62,945
Natl Median: $49,927
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
Chemical Engineering
AssocCIP: 1407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,346
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
AssocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,597
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
AssocCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,408
Natl Median: $43,243
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Median Debt
$8,041
Earnings (4yr)
$74,200
Natl Median: $54,246
Lifetime Value Added
+$256k
Computer Engineering
AssocCIP: 1409
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,316
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,971
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$8,238
Earnings (4yr)
$57,197
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $39,605
Lifetime Value Added
-$211k
Median Debt
$9,553
Earnings (4yr)
$46,287
Natl Median: $61,982
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Median Debt
$10,088
Earnings (4yr)
$40,740
Natl Median: $38,127
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,092
Natl Median: $55,895
Lifetime Value Added
+$116k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $31,773
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
AssocCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,068
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,477
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,792
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,570
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$35,116
Natl Median: $36,134
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $52,962
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,052
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,694
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$8,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,857
Natl Median: $36,221
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Median Debt
$8,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,824
Natl Median: $51,180
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,236
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
AssocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $38,929
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Homeland Security
AssocCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,829
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,593
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
AssocCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $38,348
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
AssocCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,496
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$10,250
Earnings (5yr)
$49,153
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Median Debt
$6,750
Earnings (4yr)
$49,687
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Marketing
AssocCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,264
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
AssocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,929
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,773
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,388
Natl Median: $72,444
Lifetime Value Added
+$249k
Music
AssocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,056
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,692
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
AssocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,321
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,147
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
AssocCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$6,985
Earnings (4yr)
$38,455
Natl Median: $39,288
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Median Debt
$9,000
Earnings (4yr)
$80,526
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$313k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $38,641
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
AssocCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,206
Natl Median: $39,409
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Sociology
AssocCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$5,750
Earnings (4yr)
$46,471
Natl Median: $44,144
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,002
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
AssocCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,162
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$11,049
Earnings (4yr)
$45,017
Natl Median: $37,656
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$6,500
Earnings (4yr)
$72,357
Natl Median: $58,424
Lifetime Value Added
+$239k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,799
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 decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.