College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Texas State Technical College

Waco, TX 9,437 Undergrads 40.4% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$20,752
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,508
After Aid
Median Earnings
$55,511
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$13,508
Peer Midpoint: $9,847
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$55,511
Peer Midpoint: $50,128
Warning: This school's reported earnings inflated significantly (+43%) when the Dept of Education excluded non-graduates from the dataset. Take caution when comparing.
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$38,916
Peer Midpoint: $40,451
Graduation Rate40.4%
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 Age24.9
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 Recipients52.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time51.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS58.1%

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
+$586k
+$70k
+$102k
Median Cost$14k/yr
+$561k
+$46k
+$77k
Full Cost$21k/yr
+$548k
+$32k
+$64k

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$14k/yr
30
310%
Full Cost$21k/yr
33
167%
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 Return418%

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 Return49%
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
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,930
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,190
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Median Debt
$6,334
Earnings (4yr)
$60,413
Natl Median: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
+$188k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,615
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
CertCIP: 1510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,671
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$9,500
Earnings (4yr)
$30,317
Natl Median: $30,572
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Median Debt
$5,500
Earnings (4yr)
$34,720
Natl Median: $33,673
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
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
Median Debt
$7,335
Earnings (4yr)
$80,192
Natl Median: $53,078
Lifetime Value Added
+$382k
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,492
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4701
Median Debt
$7,660
Earnings (4yr)
$33,082
Natl Median: $43,027
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$83,132
Natl Median: $65,202
Lifetime Value Added
+$411k
Median Debt
$11,083
Earnings (4yr)
$38,931
Natl Median: $55,796
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Median Debt
$9,500
Earnings (4yr)
$46,042
Natl Median: $45,268
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,896
Natl Median: $48,148
Lifetime Value Added
-$161k
Median Debt
$9,334
Earnings (4yr)
$61,718
Natl Median: $57,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$201k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,996
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$12,833
Earnings (4yr)
$63,363
Natl Median: $56,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
Median Debt
$7,667
Earnings (4yr)
$52,527
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$7,333
Earnings (4yr)
$51,266
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,967
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
-$209k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$33,002
Natl Median: $47,825
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Air Transportation
AssocCIP: 4901
Median Debt
$10,917
Earnings (4yr)
$54,585
Natl Median: $75,495
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$22,265
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$263k
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$71,586
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$226k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,009
Natl Median: $45,283
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,906
Natl Median: $55,403
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Biology, General
AssocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$10,417
Earnings (4yr)
$32,026
Natl Median: $44,758
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,378
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$36,188
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,052
Natl Median: $37,587
Lifetime Value Added
-$262k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,246
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$37,816
Natl Median: $55,195
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Computer Programming
AssocCIP: 1102
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$41,898
Natl Median: $58,070
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Computer Science
AssocCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,283
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,721
Natl Median: $41,737
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,662
Natl Median: $54,971
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Median Debt
$15,584
Earnings (4yr)
$52,618
Natl Median: $54,726
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
AssocCIP: 1510
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,247
Natl Median: $71,367
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,283
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$42,361
Natl Median: $39,605
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Median Debt
$12,955
Earnings (4yr)
$62,639
Natl Median: $61,982
Lifetime Value Added
+$144k
Median Debt
$12,960
Earnings (4yr)
$32,604
Natl Median: $38,127
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Median Debt
$12,650
Earnings (4yr)
$52,041
Natl Median: $55,895
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$107,186
Natl Median: $70,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$545k
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,825
Natl Median: $67,792
Lifetime Value Added
+$155k
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4701
Median Debt
$12,610
Earnings (4yr)
$40,021
Natl Median: $63,241
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1504
Median Debt
$10,834
Earnings (4yr)
$79,070
Natl Median: $73,046
Lifetime Value Added
+$293k
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
Engineering, General
AssocCIP: 1401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$16,238
Earnings (4yr)
$55,209
Natl Median: $55,148
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,221
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,917
Earnings (4yr)
$41,745
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Median Debt
$14,417
Earnings (4yr)
$74,781
Natl Median: $73,593
Lifetime Value Added
+$254k
Mathematics
AssocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,929
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$36,108
Natl Median: $40,734
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,692
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$9,084
Earnings (4yr)
$76,027
Natl Median: $80,768
Lifetime Value Added
+$265k
Physics
AssocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,321
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$9,168
Earnings (4yr)
$57,743
Natl Median: $56,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,050
Natl Median: $77,094
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Median Debt
$15,746
Earnings (4yr)
$82,931
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$327k
Median Debt
$13,500
Earnings (4yr)
$32,170
Natl Median: $36,642
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$9,834
Earnings (4yr)
$63,228
Natl Median: $58,424
Lifetime Value Added
+$150k

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.