Butler Community College vs Emporia State University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Emporia State University comes closer — median earnings $47,601 against a $65,044 total, vs $41,206 at Butler Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Butler Community College | Emporia State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,724 | $16,261 |
| Total net cost | $31,448 | $65,044 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,206 | $47,601 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $19,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$174,528 | -$80,224 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Butler Community College or Emporia State University?
Butler Community College, at $15,724 a year after aid versus $16,261 — a gap of $537 a year, or $33,596 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Butler Community College or Emporia State University graduates earn more?
Emporia State University graduates report a median $47,601 ten years after entry, $6,395 more than the $41,206 at Butler 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, Butler Community College or Emporia State University?
Butler Community College: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $19,500 at Emporia State University, a difference of $9,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
56% of students finish at Emporia State University, against 32% at Butler 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.