College ROI

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University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College

North Little Rock, AR 3,791 Undergrads 27.1% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$21,096
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$15,000
After Aid
Median Earnings
$34,722
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$15,000
Peer Midpoint: $16,832
Earnings (10yr)$34,722
Peer Midpoint: $31,349
Graduation Rate27.1%
Peer Midpoint: 66.3%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients58.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time56.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS50.8%

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
+$374k
+$50k
-$110k
Median Cost$15k/yr
+$360k
+$36k
-$124k
Full Cost$21k/yr
+$355k
+$30k
-$130k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$15k/yr
Never
-891%
Full Cost$21k/yr
Never
-663%
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-1122%

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-274%
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

Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,585
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k

Associate's Degrees

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,856
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
AssocCIP: 5204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,587
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Business/Commerce, General
AssocCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$11,500
Earnings (5yr)
$38,587
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Culinary Arts and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1205
Median Debt
$17,953
Earnings (5yr)
$31,202
Lifetime Value Added
-$175k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$14,935
Lifetime Value Added
-$332k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$14,500
Earnings (5yr)
$37,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Management Information Systems and Services
AssocCIP: 5212
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,954
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
AssocCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$7,000
Earnings (2yr)
$25,658
Lifetime Value Added
-$215k

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.