College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Stark State College

North Canton, OH 5,803 Undergrads 25.1% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$11,165
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$6,693
After Aid
Median Earnings
$34,661
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$6,693
Peer Midpoint: $9,014
Earnings (10yr)$34,661
Peer Midpoint: $40,397
Graduation Rate25.1%
Peer Midpoint: 32.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients42.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time37.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS52.2%

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
+$351k
-$38k
-$133k
Median Cost$7k/yr
+$339k
-$50k
-$145k
Full Cost$11k/yr
+$331k
-$58k
-$153k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$7k/yr
Never
-1181%
Full Cost$11k/yr
Never
-748%
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-1220%

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-276%
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

Health and Medical Administrative Services
CertCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$34,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k

Associate's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
AssocCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$14,325
Earnings (5yr)
$48,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$18,748
Earnings (5yr)
$37,322
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (5yr)
$68,538
Lifetime Value Added
+$199k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$13,857
Earnings (5yr)
$37,280
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
AssocCIP: 5204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$35,358
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1512
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$42,094
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Computer Software and Media Applications
AssocCIP: 1108
Median Debt
$6,699
Earnings (5yr)
$33,531
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
AssocCIP: 1109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,239
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$13,982
Earnings (5yr)
$47,319
Lifetime Value Added
+$66
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$16,125
Earnings (5yr)
$44,232
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1505
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,085
Lifetime Value Added
+$94k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,153
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$12,255
Earnings (5yr)
$38,205
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1508
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,138
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Psychology, General
AssocCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,077
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$15,510
Earnings (5yr)
$73,663
Lifetime Value Added
+$244k
Social Work
AssocCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$23,431
Earnings (5yr)
$27,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$195k
Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services
AssocCIP: 5135
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$19,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$267k

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.