Butler Community College vs Fort Hays Tech North Central: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Fort Hays Tech North Central comes closer — median earnings $46,928 against a $49,572 total, vs $41,206 at Butler Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Butler Community College | Fort Hays Tech North Central |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,724 | $12,393 |
| Total net cost | $31,448 | $49,572 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,206 | $46,928 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $10,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$174,528 | -$78,212 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Butler Community College or Fort Hays Tech North Central?
Fort Hays Tech North Central, at $12,393 a year after aid versus $15,724 — a gap of $3,331 a year, or $18,124 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 Fort Hays Tech North Central graduates earn more?
Fort Hays Tech North Central graduates report a median $46,928 ten years after entry, $5,722 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 Fort Hays Tech North Central?
Fort Hays Tech North Central: its completers carry a median $10,000 in federal loans versus $10,500 at Butler Community College, a difference of $500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
78% of students finish at Fort Hays Tech North Central, 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.