Carroll Community College vs Cortiva Institute: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Carroll Community College comes closer — median earnings $44,349 against a $5,450 total, vs $30,474 at Cortiva Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Carroll Community College | Cortiva Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $2,725 | $26,328 |
| Total net cost | $5,450 | $105,312 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,349 | $30,474 |
| Median debt | $11,750 | $7,785 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$85,670 | -$463,032 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Carroll Community College or Cortiva Institute?
Carroll Community College, at $2,725 a year after aid versus $26,328 — a gap of $23,603 a year, or $99,862 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Carroll Community College or Cortiva Institute graduates earn more?
Carroll Community College graduates report a median $44,349 ten years after entry, $13,875 more than the $30,474 at Cortiva Institute. 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, Carroll Community College or Cortiva Institute?
Cortiva Institute: its completers carry a median $7,785 in federal loans versus $11,750 at Carroll Community College, a difference of $3,965. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
70% of students finish at Cortiva Institute, against 39% at Carroll 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.