College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Virginia Peninsula Community College

Hampton, VA 3,901 Undergrads 18.9% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$12,945
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$6,468
After Aid
Median Earnings
$37,996
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$6,468
Peer Midpoint: $9,014
Earnings (10yr)$37,996
Peer Midpoint: $40,397
Graduation Rate18.9%
Peer Midpoint: 32.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients41.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time39.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS51.7%

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
+$383k
-$6k
-$101k
Median Cost$6k/yr
+$371k
-$18k
-$113k
Full Cost$13k/yr
+$359k
-$30k
-$125k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$6k/yr
Never
-954%
Full Cost$13k/yr
Never
-527%
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-831%

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-205%
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

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
CertCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$9,250
Earnings (5yr)
$38,878
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$38,446
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k

Associate's Degrees

Biological and Physical Sciences
AssocCIP: 3001
Median Debt
$9,250
Earnings (5yr)
$42,149
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$11,249
Earnings (5yr)
$46,814
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
AssocCIP: 5204
Median Debt
$21,411
Earnings (5yr)
$34,592
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
AssocCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,215
Lifetime Value Added
+$214k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$59,846
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
Engineering, General
AssocCIP: 1401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$73,384
Lifetime Value Added
+$242k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$35,929
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,851
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$12,400
Earnings (5yr)
$72,894
Lifetime Value Added
+$237k
Social Sciences, General
AssocCIP: 4501
Median Debt
$10,500
Earnings (5yr)
$36,485
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k

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.