College for Creative Studies vs Grace Christian University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Grace Christian University comes closer — median earnings $41,663 against a $49,616 total, vs $44,860 at College for Creative Studies. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | College for Creative Studies | Grace Christian University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,617 | $12,404 |
| Total net cost | $138,468 | $49,616 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,860 | $41,663 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $24,375 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$208,468 | -$183,556 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, College for Creative Studies or Grace Christian University?
Grace Christian University, at $12,404 a year after aid versus $34,617 — a gap of $22,213 a year, or $88,852 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do College for Creative Studies or Grace Christian University graduates earn more?
College for Creative Studies graduates report a median $44,860 ten years after entry, $3,197 more than the $41,663 at Grace Christian University. 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, College for Creative Studies or Grace Christian University?
Grace Christian University: its completers carry a median $24,375 in federal loans versus $26,000 at College for Creative Studies, a difference of $1,625. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
71% of students finish at College for Creative Studies, against 51% at Grace Christian University. 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.