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West Kentucky Community and Technical College
Paducah, KY 2,851 Undergrads 50.8% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$14,084
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$5,353
After Aid
Median Earnings
$43,110
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$5,353
Peer Midpoint: $17,333.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$43,110
Peer Midpoint: $34,461
Graduation Rate50.8%
Peer Midpoint: 68.7%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients59.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time54.0%
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
+$502k
+$111k
+$18k
Median Cost$5k/yr
+$497k
+$106k
+$13k
Full Cost$14k/yr
+$489k
+$98k
+$5k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
33
∞
Median Cost$5k/yr
37
264%
Full Cost$14k/yr
49
38%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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 Return195%
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 Return5%
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
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
CertCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
CertCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$10,295
Earnings (4yr)
$36,252
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
CertCIP: 5204
Median Debt
$9,999
Earnings (4yr)
$33,123
Natl Median: $32,681
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $38,675
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer and Information Sciences, General
CertCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$6,529
Earnings (4yr)
$51,632
Natl Median: $50,984
Lifetime Value Added
+$105k
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
CertCIP: 1204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$15,850
Natl Median: $26,307
Lifetime Value Added
-$294k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
CertCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,702
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Culinary Arts and Related Services
CertCIP: 1205
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $30,572
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$42,310
Natl Median: $33,673
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Design and Applied Arts
CertCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,116
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1513
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
CertCIP: 4603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,094
Natl Median: $53,078
Lifetime Value Added
+$331k
Fire Protection
CertCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,436
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Graphic Communications
CertCIP: 1003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,130
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Ground Transportation
CertCIP: 4902
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,118
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
CertCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)
CertCIP: 4702
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,148
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,199
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
CertCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$7,000
Earnings (4yr)
$29,518
Natl Median: $31,135
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
$6,025
Earnings (4yr)
$35,321
Natl Median: $56,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
$5,625
Earnings (4yr)
$58,512
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$176k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Associate's Degrees
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,852
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$9,618
Earnings (4yr)
$47,983
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$10,412
Earnings (4yr)
$47,849
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,472
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer and Information Sciences, General
AssocCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,417
Natl Median: $54,246
Lifetime Value Added
+$118k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,279
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Culinary Arts and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1205
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,605
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
AssocCIP: 4603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,850
Natl Median: $70,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$94k
Fire Protection
AssocCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,589
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Graphic Communications
AssocCIP: 1003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,221
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$30,269
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
AssocCIP: 5100
Median Debt
$7,194
Earnings (4yr)
$38,499
Natl Median: $51,180
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,017
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other
AssocCIP: 4399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,255
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$26,854
Natl Median: $34,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$201k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$7,620
Earnings (4yr)
$38,835
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Marine Transportation
AssocCIP: 4903
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,773
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
AssocCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$8,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,596
Natl Median: $50,491
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
Precision Metal Working
AssocCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,771
Natl Median: $56,451
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$11,068
Earnings (4yr)
$69,850
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$225k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,424
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Bachelor's Degrees
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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 degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.