Barton County Community College vs Fort Scott Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Barton County Community College comes closer — median earnings $40,428 against a $39,620 total, vs $37,213 at Fort Scott Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Barton County Community College | Fort Scott Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,905 | $5,586 |
| Total net cost | $39,620 | $22,344 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,428 | $37,213 |
| Median debt | $9,501 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$198,260 | -$245,284 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Barton County Community College or Fort Scott Community College?
Fort Scott Community College, at $5,586 a year after aid versus $9,905 — a gap of $4,319 a year, or $17,276 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Barton County Community College or Fort Scott Community College graduates earn more?
Barton County Community College graduates report a median $40,428 ten years after entry, $3,215 more than the $37,213 at Fort Scott Community 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, Barton County Community College or Fort Scott Community College?
Fort Scott Community College: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $9,501 at Barton County Community College, a difference of $1. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
35% of students finish at Fort Scott Community College, against 33% at Barton County Community 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.