College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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West Kentucky Community and Technical College

Paducah, KY 2,810 Undergrads 45.3% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$13,457
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$5,023
After Aid
Median Earnings
$34,891
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$5,023
Peer Midpoint: $16,832
Earnings (10yr)$34,891
Peer Midpoint: $31,349
Graduation Rate45.3%
Peer Midpoint: 66.3%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients58.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time54.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS49.4%

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
+$376k
+$51k
-$108k
Median Cost$5k/yr
+$371k
+$47k
-$113k
Full Cost$13k/yr
+$364k
+$39k
-$121k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$5k/yr
Never
-2426%
Full Cost$13k/yr
Never
-968%
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-1676%

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-368%
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

Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
CertCIP: 1204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$15,850
Lifetime Value Added
-$294k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$42,310
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
$6,025
Earnings (2yr)
$36,134
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
$5,625
Earnings (5yr)
$47,139
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k

Associate's Degrees

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,852
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$9,618
Earnings (5yr)
$51,735
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$10,412
Earnings (5yr)
$34,424
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
AssocCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,417
Lifetime Value Added
+$119k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$202k
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
AssocCIP: 4603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,850
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$30,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
AssocCIP: 5100
Median Debt
$7,194
Earnings (5yr)
$33,019
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$26,854
Lifetime Value Added
-$201k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$7,620
Earnings (5yr)
$35,845
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
AssocCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$8,000
Earnings (5yr)
$34,140
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Precision Metal Working
AssocCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,771
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$11,068
Earnings (5yr)
$62,565
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k

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.