Is College Worth It? ROI Calculator
See the 40-year NPV of a college degree vs trade school vs no degree — with your actual numbers. Break-even, lifetime earnings premium, and loan cost all shown.
Trade School Wins
The trade school path shows a higher NPV than the college path at these numbers. Trade programs often have a faster break-even and lower debt exposure.
College Costs
Career Projections
Trade School Comparison
40-Year NPV Comparison (5% Discount Rate)
College Degree
$963K
ROI: 299%
Break-even: Yr 16
No Degree
$913K
Baseline comparison
Trade School ★
$1.2M
ROI: 6260%
Break-even: Yr 3
True Total Cost of College
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