Barton County Community College vs Highland Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Highland Community College comes closer — median earnings $41,291 against a $41,816 total, vs $40,428 at Barton County Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Barton County Community College | Highland Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,905 | $10,454 |
| Total net cost | $39,620 | $41,816 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,428 | $41,291 |
| Median debt | $9,501 | $8,277 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$198,260 | -$183,196 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Barton County Community College or Highland Community College?
Barton County Community College, at $9,905 a year after aid versus $10,454 — a gap of $549 a year, or $2,196 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 Highland Community College graduates earn more?
Highland Community College graduates report a median $41,291 ten years after entry, $863 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 Highland Community College?
Highland Community College: its completers carry a median $8,277 in federal loans versus $9,501 at Barton County Community College, a difference of $1,224. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
39% of students finish at Highland 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.