Dakota College at Bottineau vs Cankdeska Cikana Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Dakota College at Bottineau comes closer — median earnings $40,576 against a $20,078 total, vs $17,008 at Cankdeska Cikana Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Dakota College at Bottineau | Cankdeska Cikana Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,039 | $6,507 |
| Total net cost | $20,078 | $13,014 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,576 | $17,008 |
| Median debt | $10,507 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$175,758 | -$640,054 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Dakota College at Bottineau or Cankdeska Cikana Community College?
Cankdeska Cikana Community College, at $6,507 a year after aid versus $10,039 — a gap of $3,532 a year, or $7,064 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Dakota College at Bottineau or Cankdeska Cikana Community College graduates earn more?
Dakota College at Bottineau graduates report a median $40,576 ten years after entry, $23,568 more than the $17,008 at Cankdeska Cikana 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 graduates more of its students?
48% of students finish at Dakota College at Bottineau, against 28% at Cankdeska Cikana 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.