Barton County Community College vs Garden City Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Garden City Community College comes closer — median earnings $41,704 against a $32,976 total, vs $40,428 at Barton County Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Barton County Community College | Garden City Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,905 | $8,244 |
| Total net cost | $39,620 | $32,976 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,428 | $41,704 |
| Median debt | $9,501 | $6,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$198,260 | -$166,096 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Barton County Community College or Garden City Community College?
Garden City Community College, at $8,244 a year after aid versus $9,905 — a gap of $1,661 a year, or $6,644 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 Garden City Community College graduates earn more?
Garden City Community College graduates report a median $41,704 ten years after entry, $1,276 more than the $40,428 at Barton County 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 Garden City Community College?
Garden City Community College: its completers carry a median $6,500 in federal loans versus $9,501 at Barton County Community College, a difference of $3,001. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
50% of students finish at Garden City 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.