Baker College vs Ross College-Grand Rapids North: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Baker College comes closer — median earnings $35,833 against a $52,628 total, vs $30,072 at Ross College-Grand Rapids North. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Baker College | Ross College-Grand Rapids North |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,157 | $20,033 |
| Total net cost | $52,628 | $80,132 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,833 | $30,072 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$303,168 | -$445,892 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Baker College or Ross College-Grand Rapids North?
Baker College, at $13,157 a year after aid versus $20,033 — a gap of $6,876 a year, or $27,504 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 Ross College-Grand Rapids North graduates earn more?
Baker College graduates report a median $35,833 ten years after entry, $5,761 more than the $30,072 at Ross College-Grand Rapids North. 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 Ross College-Grand Rapids North?
Ross College-Grand Rapids North: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Baker College, a difference of $15,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
57% of students finish at Ross College-Grand Rapids North, against 36% at Baker 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.