Butler Community College vs Hesston College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Hesston College comes closer — median earnings $47,495 against a $52,598 total, vs $41,206 at Butler Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Butler Community College | Hesston College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,724 | $26,299 |
| Total net cost | $31,448 | $52,598 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,206 | $47,495 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $12,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$174,528 | -$69,898 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Butler Community College or Hesston College?
Butler Community College, at $15,724 a year after aid versus $26,299 — a gap of $10,575 a year, or $21,150 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 Hesston College graduates earn more?
Hesston College graduates report a median $47,495 ten years after entry, $6,289 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 Hesston College?
Butler Community College: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $12,000 at Hesston College, a difference of $1,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
61% of students finish at Hesston College, 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.