Cloud County 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 $39,883 at Cloud County Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Cloud County Community College | Fort Hays Tech North Central |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,685 | $12,393 |
| Total net cost | $46,740 | $49,572 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,883 | $46,928 |
| Median debt | $8,000 | $10,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$216,280 | -$78,212 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Cloud County Community College or Fort Hays Tech North Central?
Cloud County Community College, at $11,685 a year after aid versus $12,393 — a gap of $708 a year, or $2,832 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Cloud County 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, $7,045 more than the $39,883 at Cloud County 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, Cloud County Community College or Fort Hays Tech North Central?
Cloud County Community College: its completers carry a median $8,000 in federal loans versus $10,000 at Fort Hays Tech North Central, a difference of $2,000. 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 55% at Cloud County 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.