Ashland Community and Technical College vs Union Commonwealth University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Union Commonwealth University comes closer — median earnings $42,002 against a $85,244 total, vs $34,504 at Ashland Community and Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ashland Community and Technical College | Union Commonwealth University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,717 | $21,311 |
| Total net cost | $22,868 | $85,244 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,504 | $42,002 |
| Median debt | $10,950 | $24,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$299,988 | -$212,404 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Ashland Community and Technical College or Union Commonwealth University?
Ashland Community and Technical College, at $5,717 a year after aid versus $21,311 — a gap of $15,594 a year, or $62,376 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 Union Commonwealth University graduates earn more?
Union Commonwealth University graduates report a median $42,002 ten years after entry, $7,498 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 Union Commonwealth University?
Ashland Community and Technical College: its completers carry a median $10,950 in federal loans versus $24,250 at Union Commonwealth University, a difference of $13,300. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
51% of students finish at Ashland Community and Technical College, against 32% at Union Commonwealth University. 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.