College ROI

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Southwest Wisconsin Technical College

Fennimore, WI 1,277 Undergrads 69.7% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$15,282
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$10,277
After Aid
Median Earnings
$43,470
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$10,277
Peer Midpoint: $16,832
Earnings (10yr)$43,470
Peer Midpoint: $31,349
Graduation Rate69.7%
Peer Midpoint: 66.3%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients38.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time36.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS72.2%

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
+$462k
+$137k
-$23k
Median Cost$10k/yr
+$452k
+$127k
-$32k
Full Cost$15k/yr
+$448k
+$123k
-$37k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$10k/yr
Never
-338%
Full Cost$15k/yr
Never
-260%
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-367%

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-115%
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

Agricultural Mechanization
CertCIP: 0102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,997
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
CertCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$5,771
Earnings (5yr)
$34,655
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Carpenters
CertCIP: 4602
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,236
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
CertCIP: 1204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$24,503
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$32,220
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
CertCIP: 4603
Median Debt
$4,500
Earnings (5yr)
$74,799
Lifetime Value Added
+$319k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
CertCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$7,592
Earnings (5yr)
$42,425
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,496
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
$4,000
Earnings (5yr)
$52,227
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,851
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k

Associate's Degrees

Agricultural Business and Management
AssocCIP: 0101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,238
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,344
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$8,500
Earnings (5yr)
$43,802
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Computer Software and Media Applications
AssocCIP: 1108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
AssocCIP: 1109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,310
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$10,000
Earnings (5yr)
$49,858
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Culinary Arts and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1205
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,188
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$71,428
Lifetime Value Added
+$217k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$10,125
Earnings (5yr)
$70,241
Lifetime Value Added
+$207k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
AssocCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,508
Lifetime Value Added
-$252k

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.