College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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South Plains College

Levelland, TX 6,124 Undergrads 22.9% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$12,880
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$7,062
After Aid
Median Earnings
$41,276
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$7,062
Peer Midpoint: $9,014
Earnings (10yr)$41,276
Peer Midpoint: $40,397
Graduation Rate22.9%
Peer Midpoint: 32.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients52.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time60.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS58.9%

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
+$414k
+$25k
-$71k
Median Cost$7k/yr
+$401k
+$12k
-$84k
Full Cost$13k/yr
+$390k
+$1k
-$94k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$7k/yr
Never
-644%
Full Cost$13k/yr
Never
-398%
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-601%

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-159%
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

Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
CertCIP: 1204
Median Debt
$9,999
Earnings (5yr)
$22,989
Lifetime Value Added
-$216k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
CertCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$9,167
Lifetime Value Added
-$369k
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
$10,500
Earnings (5yr)
$50,349
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$42,566
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,079
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k

Associate's Degrees

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,284
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,112
Lifetime Value Added
+$140k
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1002
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$34,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,236
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
AssocCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,542
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$37,071
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Design and Applied Arts
AssocCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$22,747
Lifetime Value Added
-$246k
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technology
AssocCIP: 4701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,350
Lifetime Value Added
+$187k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$14,457
Earnings (5yr)
$39,381
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Music
AssocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$23,595
Lifetime Value Added
-$238k
Precision Metal Working
AssocCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$17,153
Earnings (5yr)
$70,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$215k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$42,298
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k

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.