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National ROI Summary
Aggregated analysis of return on investment across US institutions, grouped by credential level.
United States - National Aggregate
Institution Statistics
Financial ROI
| Level | Institutions | NPV (Zero Cost) Pos / Neg | NPV (Med Cost) Pos / Neg | NPV (Full Cost) Pos / Neg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 2,414 | 35% n=1,991 | 33% n=1,981 | 32% n=1,991 |
| Associate | 931 | 75% n=844 | 66% n=831 | 60% n=844 |
| Bachelor | 1,880 | 71% n=1,646 | 41% n=1,646 | 19% n=1,646 |
| Master's | 173 | n=0 | n=0 | n=0 |
| Doctoral | 53 | n=0 | n=0 | n=0 |
| Total | 5,451 | 56% n=4,481 | 42% n=4,458 | 32% n=4,481 |
Student Outcomes
| Level | Institutions | Earnings vs HS >HS / ≤HS | Social ROI Pos / Neg | Pell ROI Pos / Neg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 2,414 | 50% n=2,024 | 33% n=1,991 | 29% n=1,991 |
| Associate | 931 | 87% n=886 | 68% n=844 | 49% n=844 |
| Bachelor | 1,880 | 92% n=1,774 | 41% n=1,646 | 9% n=1,646 |
| Master's | 173 | 100% n=14 | n=0 | n=0 |
| Doctoral | 53 | 100% n=4 | n=0 | n=0 |
| Total | 5,451 | 73% n=4,702 | 43% n=4,481 | 25% n=4,481 |
Student Statistics
Financial ROI
| Level | Students | NPV (Zero Cost) Pos / Neg | NPV (Med Cost) Pos / Neg | NPV (Full Cost) Pos / Neg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 2,351,470 | 81% n=2,277,968 | 79% n=2,259,744 | 78% n=2,277,968 |
| Associate | 3,373,674 | 89% n=3,328,124 | 84% n=3,242,476 | 79% n=3,328,124 |
| Bachelor | 11,820,716 | 91% n=11,587,624 | 68% n=11,587,624 | 42% n=11,587,624 |
| Master's | 65,410 | n=0 | n=0 | n=0 |
| Doctoral | 63,979 | n=0 | n=0 | n=0 |
| Total | 17,675,249 | 89% n=17,193,716 | 73% n=17,089,844 | 54% n=17,193,716 |
Student Outcomes
| Level | Students | Earnings vs HS >HS / ≤HS | Social ROI Pos / Neg | Pell ROI Pos / Neg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 2,351,470 | 84% n=2,312,018 | 79% n=2,277,968 | 76% n=2,277,968 |
| Associate | 3,373,674 | 94% n=3,354,457 | 86% n=3,328,124 | 68% n=3,328,124 |
| Bachelor | 11,820,716 | 98% n=11,765,908 | 74% n=11,587,624 | 18% n=11,587,624 |
| Master's | 65,410 | 100% n=5,410 | n=0 | n=0 |
| Doctoral | 63,979 | 100% n=2,619 | n=0 | n=0 |
| Total | 17,675,249 | 95% n=17,440,412 | 77% n=17,193,716 | 36% n=17,193,716 |
Visualization Key
The Donut Chart shows the visual breakdown of positive vs negative results.
Green = Positive %
Red = Negative %
Credential Classification & Durations
Institutions are grouped into rows by their predominant degree level, and each school's ROI uses that level's program length: one year for certificates, two for associate degrees, four for bachelor's. A school that mostly awards certificates or associate degrees but also awards longer degrees is still priced at the shorter length, while its earnings include graduates of the longer programs. When that pushes its Social ROI to 1,000% or its Pell ROI to 250%, the school carries a warning.