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Baker College vs Dorsey College-Dearborn: which has better ROI?

Private nonprofit, Owosso MI · vs · Private for-profit, Detroit MI

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Baker College comes closer — median earnings $35,833 against a $52,628 total, vs $29,392 at Dorsey College-Dearborn. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureBaker CollegeDorsey College-Dearborn
Net price / yr$13,157$25,615
Total net cost$52,628$102,460
Median earnings, 10 yrs$35,833$29,392
Median debt$25,000$13,000
Payback
20-year net return-$303,168-$481,820

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Baker College or Dorsey College-Dearborn?

Baker College, at $13,157 a year after aid versus $25,615 — a gap of $12,458 a year, or $49,832 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Baker College or Dorsey College-Dearborn graduates earn more?

Baker College graduates report a median $35,833 ten years after entry, $6,441 more than the $29,392 at Dorsey College-Dearborn. 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, Baker College or Dorsey College-Dearborn?

Dorsey College-Dearborn: its completers carry a median $13,000 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Baker College, a difference of $12,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

36% of students finish at Baker College, against 35% at Dorsey College-Dearborn. 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.

Baker College vs Dorsey College-Dearborn: frequently asked questions

Is Baker College or Dorsey College-Dearborn a better value?
Baker College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Baker College or Dorsey College-Dearborn?
Baker College: $13,157/yr net price after aid versus $25,615/yr at Dorsey College-Dearborn — a difference of $12,458 a year, or about $49,832 over four years.
Do Baker College or Dorsey College-Dearborn graduates earn more?
Baker College graduates earn a median $35,833 ten years after entry, versus $29,392 at Dorsey College-Dearborn — a $6,441 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.