Ashland Community and Technical College vs Berea College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Berea College comes closer — median earnings $43,150 against a $24,424 total, vs $34,504 at Ashland Community and Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ashland Community and Technical College | Berea College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,717 | $6,106 |
| Total net cost | $22,868 | $24,424 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,504 | $43,150 |
| Median debt | $10,950 | $3,591 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$299,988 | -$128,624 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Ashland Community and Technical College or Berea College?
Ashland Community and Technical College, at $5,717 a year after aid versus $6,106 — a gap of $389 a year, or $1,556 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Ashland Community and Technical College or Berea College graduates earn more?
Berea College graduates report a median $43,150 ten years after entry, $8,646 more than the $34,504 at Ashland Community and Technical College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Ashland Community and Technical College or Berea College?
Berea College: its completers carry a median $3,591 in federal loans versus $10,950 at Ashland Community and Technical College, a difference of $7,359. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
58% of students finish at Berea College, against 51% at Ashland Community and Technical College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.