College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Wayne Community College

Goldsboro, NC 1,998 Undergrads 39.4% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$11,311
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$4,152
After Aid
Median Earnings
$34,148
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$4,152
Peer Midpoint: $16,832
Earnings (10yr)$34,148
Peer Midpoint: $31,349
Graduation Rate39.4%
Peer Midpoint: 66.3%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients45.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time39.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS53.6%

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
+$369k
+$44k
-$116k
Median Cost$4k/yr
+$365k
+$40k
-$120k
Full Cost$11k/yr
+$358k
+$33k
-$126k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$4k/yr
Never
-3108%
Full Cost$11k/yr
Never
-1204%
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-2107%

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-443%
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

Business Administration, Management and Operations
CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$32,044
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
CertCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,523
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
CertCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$28,203
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$42,329
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,650
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k

Associate's Degrees

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$31,618
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$32,396
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
AssocCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,079
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,868
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Design and Applied Arts
AssocCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$20,225
Lifetime Value Added
-$267k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$30,956
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$39,302
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,390
Lifetime Value Added
+$193k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
AssocCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$19,227
Lifetime Value Added
-$265k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$38,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k

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.