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South Texas College
McAllen, TX 15,856 Undergrads 32.7% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$9,561
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$1,751
After Aid
Median Earnings
$40,768
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$1,751
Peer Midpoint: $9,847
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$40,768
Peer Midpoint: $50,127.5
Graduation Rate32.7%
Peer Midpoint: 34.6%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients59.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time45.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS46.5%
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
+$440k
-$75k
-$44k
Median Cost$2k/yr
+$437k
-$78k
-$47k
Full Cost$10k/yr
+$423k
-$93k
-$62k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$2k/yr
Never
-1467%
Full Cost$10k/yr
Never
-350%
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 Return-503%
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-123%
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 (4yr)
$24,673
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
-$187k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
CertCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,273
Natl Median: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
+$136k
American Sign Language
CertCIP: 1616
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,771
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
CertCIP: 5204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$22,196
Natl Median: $32,681
Lifetime Value Added
-$215k
Business/Commerce, General
CertCIP: 5201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,097
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer and Information Sciences, General
CertCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$19,160
Natl Median: $50,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$254k
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1512
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$32,971
Natl Median: $38,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
CertCIP: 1510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,671
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections
CertCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,285
Natl Median: $57,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$157k
Culinary Arts and Related Services
CertCIP: 1205
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$23,361
Natl Median: $30,572
Lifetime Value Added
-$207k
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1513
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$31,238
Natl Median: $53,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
CertCIP: 4603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,957
Natl Median: $53,078
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Fire Protection
CertCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,838
Natl Median: $62,436
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
CertCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$33,578
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)
CertCIP: 4702
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,624
Natl Median: $48,148
Lifetime Value Added
+$292
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
CertCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$20,496
Natl Median: $31,135
Lifetime Value Added
-$235k
Human Resources Management and Services
CertCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,907
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Legal Support Services
CertCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,747
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,675
Natl Median: $56,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$150k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,926
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Public Administration
CertCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,764
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,670
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
+$792
Associate's Degrees
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,050
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,833
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$177k
American Sign Language
AssocCIP: 1616
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$22,261
Natl Median: $37,886
Lifetime Value Added
-$237k
Anthropology
AssocCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,638
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
AssocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,289
Natl Median: $44,758
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
AssocCIP: 5204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$29,889
Natl Median: $37,587
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Business/Commerce, General
AssocCIP: 5201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,416
Natl Median: $49,927
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Communication and Media Studies
AssocCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,778
Natl Median: $43,243
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
AssocCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,650
Natl Median: $54,246
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1512
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,642
Natl Median: $55,195
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Computer Science
AssocCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$31,376
Natl Median: $62,283
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,235
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Culinary Arts and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1205
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$29,888
Natl Median: $39,605
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
Design and Applied Arts
AssocCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$23,961
Natl Median: $38,127
Lifetime Value Added
-$219k
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1513
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,895
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
AssocCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $31,773
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
AssocCIP: 4603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$21,927
Natl Median: $70,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$245k
Engineering, General
AssocCIP: 1401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,940
Natl Median: $72,916
Lifetime Value Added
+$178k
English Language and Literature, General
AssocCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$29,167
Natl Median: $36,134
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
Fine and Studio Arts
AssocCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$22,970
Natl Median: $31,650
Lifetime Value Added
-$234k
Fire Protection
AssocCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,856
Natl Median: $73,589
Lifetime Value Added
+$73k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$30,743
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs
AssocCIP: 5111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)
AssocCIP: 4702
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,483
Natl Median: $58,236
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
History
AssocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$32,363
Natl Median: $38,929
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$30,621
Natl Median: $34,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Human Resources Management and Services
AssocCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Legal Support Services
AssocCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$32,808
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$29,990
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
AssocCIP: 1601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,796
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
AssocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,929
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
AssocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,056
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
AssocCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,229
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
AssocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,321
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
AssocCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,147
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Precision Metal Working
AssocCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,464
Natl Median: $56,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Psychology, General
AssocCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$30,857
Natl Median: $39,288
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Public Administration
AssocCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,748
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$88,029
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$395k
Social Sciences, General
AssocCIP: 4501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$36,454
Natl Median: $43,146
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Social Work
AssocCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$35,379
Natl Median: $39,409
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
AssocCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$36,477
Natl Median: $40,162
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
AssocCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$31,083
Natl Median: $37,656
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,246
Natl Median: $58,424
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Bachelor's Degrees
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,612
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,438
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,423
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
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.