Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Colby Community College vs Allen County Community College: which has better ROI?

Public, Colby KS · vs · Public, Iola KS

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Colby Community College comes closer — median earnings $41,889 against a $31,544 total, vs $40,059 at Allen County Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureColby Community CollegeAllen County Community College
Net price / yr$7,886$8,642
Total net cost$31,544$17,284
Median earnings, 10 yrs$41,889$40,059
Median debt$8,908$6,954
Payback
20-year net return-$160,964-$183,304

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Colby Community College or Allen County Community College?

Colby Community College, at $7,886 a year after aid versus $8,642 — a gap of $756 a year, or $14,260 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Colby Community College or Allen County Community College graduates earn more?

Colby Community College graduates report a median $41,889 ten years after entry, $1,830 more than the $40,059 at Allen 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, Colby Community College or Allen County Community College?

Allen County Community College: its completers carry a median $6,954 in federal loans versus $8,908 at Colby Community College, a difference of $1,954. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

55% of students finish at Colby Community College, against 37% at Allen 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.

Colby Community College vs Allen County Community College: frequently asked questions

Is Colby Community College or Allen County Community College a better value?
Colby Community College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Colby Community College or Allen County Community College?
Colby Community College: $7,886/yr net price after aid versus $8,642/yr at Allen County Community College — a difference of $756 a year, or about $14,260 over four years.
Do Colby Community College or Allen County Community College graduates earn more?
Colby Community College graduates earn a median $41,889 ten years after entry, versus $40,059 at Allen County Community College — a $1,830 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.