Culver-Stockton College vs Cottey College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Culver-Stockton College comes closer — median earnings $46,092 against a $87,932 total, vs $35,422 at Cottey College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Culver-Stockton College | Cottey College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,983 | $13,805 |
| Total net cost | $87,932 | $55,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,092 | $35,422 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $19,043 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$133,292 | -$313,980 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Culver-Stockton College or Cottey College?
Cottey College, at $13,805 a year after aid versus $21,983 — a gap of $8,178 a year, or $32,712 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Culver-Stockton College or Cottey College graduates earn more?
Culver-Stockton College graduates report a median $46,092 ten years after entry, $10,670 more than the $35,422 at Cottey 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, Culver-Stockton College or Cottey College?
Cottey College: its completers carry a median $19,043 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Culver-Stockton College, a difference of $6,957. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
56% of students finish at Cottey College, against 39% at Culver-Stockton 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.