College ROI

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Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology

Lancaster, PA 1,446 Undergrads 61.9% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$19,898
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$10,665
After Aid
Median Earnings
$61,812
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$10,665
Peer Midpoint: $9,956
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$61,812
Peer Midpoint: $51,775
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$56,469
Peer Midpoint: $45,130
Graduation Rate61.9%
Peer Midpoint: 35.7%
Average Starting Age21.8
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients44.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
71.2%
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)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$638k
+$114k
+$151k
Median Cost$11k/yr
+$618k
+$94k
+$132k
Full Cost$20k/yr
+$601k
+$77k
+$115k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
24
∞
Median Cost$11k/yr
26
673%
Full Cost$20k/yr
29
314%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
  • 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 Return693%

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 Return115%

Program ROI Analysis

These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →

Certificates

Median Debt
$5,500
Earnings (4yr)
$49,837
Natl Median: $53,078
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,812
Natl Median: $55,403
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
Median Debt
$11,328
Earnings (4yr)
$51,477
Natl Median: $59,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (2yr)
$21,052
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
-$258k
Carpenters
AssocCIP: 4602
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$46,433
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,859
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
Computer Engineering
AssocCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,316
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,615
Natl Median: $55,895
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4701
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$80,864
Natl Median: $63,241
Lifetime Value Added
+$317k
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other
AssocCIP: 1599
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,937
Natl Median: $69,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$74,523
Natl Median: $55,148
Lifetime Value Added
+$247k
Median Debt
$10,466
Earnings (4yr)
$40,117
Natl Median: $36,221
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Mason/Masonry
AssocCIP: 4601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,956
Natl Median: $39,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$61,297
Natl Median: $65,254
Lifetime Value Added
+$138k
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (2yr)
$39,729
Natl Median: $67,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$68,071
Natl Median: $56,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$202k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$9,961
Earnings (4yr)
$54,752
Natl Median: $58,424
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Woodworking
AssocCIP: 4807
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,571
Natl Median: $42,867
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k

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.