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Western Iowa Tech Community College
Sioux City, IA 2,647 Undergrads 51.3% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$14,894
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$8,770
After Aid
Median Earnings
$47,713
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$8,770
Peer Midpoint: $17,333.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$47,713
Peer Midpoint: $34,461
Graduation Rate51.3%
Peer Midpoint: 68.7%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients53.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time56.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS60.4%
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
+$552k
+$161k
+$68k
Median Cost$9k/yr
+$544k
+$152k
+$60k
Full Cost$15k/yr
+$538k
+$147k
+$54k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
24
∞
Median Cost$9k/yr
26
733%
Full Cost$15k/yr
28
390%
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 Return860%
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 Return148%
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
Accounting and Related Services
CertCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$12,138
Earnings (4yr)
$38,319
Natl Median: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Agricultural Business and Management
CertCIP: 0101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,930
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
CertCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$36,676
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
CertCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$5,665
Earnings (4yr)
$53,653
Natl Median: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
+$123k
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1002
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,065
Natl Median: $33,223
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
CertCIP: 5204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,797
Natl Median: $32,681
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Carpenters
CertCIP: 4602
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,497
Natl Median: $41,835
Lifetime Value Added
+$214k
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
CertCIP: 1110
Median Debt
$7,915
Earnings (4yr)
$39,900
Natl Median: $52,615
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
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)
$32,665
Natl Median: $30,572
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$5,500
Earnings (4yr)
$39,061
Natl Median: $33,673
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Design and Applied Arts
CertCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$38,351
Natl Median: $36,116
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
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)
$49,520
Natl Median: $53,078
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,202
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
CertCIP: 5207
Median Debt
$12,475
Earnings (4yr)
$49,753
Natl Median: $50,211
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
CertCIP: 5006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,800
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fire Protection
CertCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,177
Natl Median: $62,436
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Graphic Communications
CertCIP: 1003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,130
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
CertCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$11,500
Earnings (4yr)
$39,777
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)
CertCIP: 4702
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,294
Natl Median: $48,148
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
Hospitality Administration/Management
CertCIP: 5209
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,962
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
CertCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$8,175
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $31,135
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Resources Management and Services
CertCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,073
Natl Median: $61,907
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Legal Support Services
CertCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,747
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1508
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,024
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services
CertCIP: 4605
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,996
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
$8,931
Earnings (4yr)
$54,239
Natl Median: $56,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,372
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
CertCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
CertCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,570
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teaching Assistants/Aides
CertCIP: 1315
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $24,479
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$5,500
Earnings (4yr)
$51,446
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 0183
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$22,578
Natl Median: $34,862
Lifetime Value Added
-$207k
Associate's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
AssocCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,442
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1002
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,418
Natl Median: $35,660
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
AssocCIP: 5204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,572
Natl Median: $37,587
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
AssocCIP: 1110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,726
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$48,851
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Culinary Arts and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1205
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$33,272
Natl Median: $39,605
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Design and Applied Arts
AssocCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $38,127
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1513
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,895
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,046
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
AssocCIP: 5006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,186
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Finance and Financial Management Services
AssocCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,913
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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)
$32,620
Natl Median: $36,221
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,598
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k
Hospitality Administration/Management
AssocCIP: 5209
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,099
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$34,958
Natl Median: $34,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Human Resources Management and Services
AssocCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Legal Support Services
AssocCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$11,034
Earnings (4yr)
$42,374
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
AssocCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,491
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Precision Metal Working
AssocCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4704
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,353
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
AssocCIP: 0909
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,309
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$13,897
Earnings (4yr)
$74,047
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$256k
Security Science and Technology
AssocCIP: 4304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,839
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,659
Natl Median: $58,424
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
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.