Warren County Career Center — ROI, Cost & Payback
Warren County Career Center charges a net price of $24,731/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $98,924. Graduates earn a median $49,016 ten years after entry, $656/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 150.8 years — a 20-year net return of $-85,804, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Warren County Career Center's 150.8-year payback ranks #1,244 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 3% of them, and #64 of 144 in Ohio.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $24,731/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $98,924 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $49,016 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $656/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $5,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 150.8 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $-85,804 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
How we compute this. Payback = total net cost ÷ annual earnings premium, where the premium is median earnings 10 years after entry minus the $48,360 baseline (BLS 2024 median for a high-school-diploma worker 25+). Total net cost = net price × 4 years. We do not discount future dollars. The institution-wide earnings figure blends every major — a specific program's payback can be far better or worse. Full method on the methodology page.