Central Community College vs Mid-Plains Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Mid-Plains Community College comes closer — median earnings $40,059 against a $10,470 total, vs $39,429 at Central Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Central Community College | Mid-Plains Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,024 | $5,235 |
| Total net cost | $28,096 | $10,470 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,429 | $40,059 |
| Median debt | $7,992 | $9,995 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$206,716 | -$176,490 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Central Community College or Mid-Plains Community College?
Mid-Plains Community College, at $5,235 a year after aid versus $7,024 — a gap of $1,789 a year, or $17,626 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Central Community College or Mid-Plains Community College graduates earn more?
Mid-Plains Community College graduates report a median $40,059 ten years after entry, $630 more than the $39,429 at Central 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, Central Community College or Mid-Plains Community College?
Central Community College: its completers carry a median $7,992 in federal loans versus $9,995 at Mid-Plains Community College, a difference of $2,003. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
54% of students finish at Mid-Plains Community College, against 48% at Central 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.