Delgado Community College vs Blue Cliff College-Metairie: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Delgado Community College comes closer — median earnings $33,305 against a $38,988 total, vs $22,177 at Blue Cliff College-Metairie. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Delgado Community College | Blue Cliff College-Metairie |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,747 | $9,863 |
| Total net cost | $38,988 | $39,452 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $33,305 | $22,177 |
| Median debt | $20,198 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$340,088 | -$563,112 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Delgado Community College or Blue Cliff College-Metairie?
Delgado Community College, at $9,747 a year after aid versus $9,863 — a gap of $116 a year, or $464 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Delgado Community College or Blue Cliff College-Metairie graduates earn more?
Delgado Community College graduates report a median $33,305 ten years after entry, $11,128 more than the $22,177 at Blue Cliff College-Metairie. 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, Delgado Community College or Blue Cliff College-Metairie?
Blue Cliff College-Metairie: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $20,198 at Delgado Community College, a difference of $10,698. 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 Blue Cliff College-Metairie, against 24% at Delgado 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.