College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology

Lancaster, PA 1,449 Undergrads 73.6% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$17,066
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$9,964
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,681
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$9,964
Peer Midpoint: $9,014
Earnings (10yr)$54,681
Peer Midpoint: $40,397
Graduation Rate73.6%
Peer Midpoint: 32.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients40.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time96.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
52.9%
SAT Avg
1,120
SAT Reading
25th: 490-75th: 620
SAT Math
25th: 530-75th: 595
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
+$537k
+$148k
+$53k
Median Cost$10k/yr
+$519k
+$130k
+$35k
Full Cost$17k/yr
+$506k
+$117k
+$22k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
30
Median Cost$10k/yr
36
190%
Full Cost$17k/yr
42
69%
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 Return240%

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 Return12%
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

Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
CertCIP: 4603
Median Debt
$5,500
Earnings (5yr)
$47,230
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k

Associate's Degrees

Architectural Sciences and Technology
AssocCIP: 0409
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,052
Lifetime Value Added
-$256k
Carpenters
AssocCIP: 4602
Median Debt
$7,231
Earnings (5yr)
$52,333
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other
AssocCIP: 1199
Median Debt
$8,903
Earnings (5yr)
$54,767
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1513
Median Debt
$11,940
Earnings (5yr)
$52,520
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technology
AssocCIP: 4701
Median Debt
$10,966
Earnings (5yr)
$71,734
Lifetime Value Added
+$221k
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other
AssocCIP: 1599
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,204
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
Graphic Communications
AssocCIP: 1003
Median Debt
$8,000
Earnings (5yr)
$28,781
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)
AssocCIP: 4702
Median Debt
$8,977
Earnings (5yr)
$65,696
Lifetime Value Added
+$167k
Mason/Masonry
AssocCIP: 4601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k
Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering
AssocCIP: 1442
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,358
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services
AssocCIP: 4605
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$42,396
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Precision Metal Working
AssocCIP: 4805
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$62,354
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$10,610
Earnings (5yr)
$47,791
Lifetime Value Added
-$1k
Woodworking
AssocCIP: 4807
Median Debt
$9,373
Earnings (5yr)
$53,411
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k

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.