Delta College of Arts & Technology vs Blue Cliff College-Metairie: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Delta College of Arts & Technology comes closer — median earnings $34,222 against a $79,156 total, vs $22,177 at Blue Cliff College-Metairie. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Delta College of Arts & Technology | Blue Cliff College-Metairie |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,789 | $9,863 |
| Total net cost | $79,156 | $39,452 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,222 | $22,177 |
| Median debt | $7,393 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$361,916 | -$563,112 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Delta College of Arts & Technology or Blue Cliff College-Metairie?
Blue Cliff College-Metairie, at $9,863 a year after aid versus $19,789 — a gap of $9,926 a year, or $39,704 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Delta College of Arts & Technology or Blue Cliff College-Metairie graduates earn more?
Delta College of Arts & Technology graduates report a median $34,222 ten years after entry, $12,045 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, Delta College of Arts & Technology or Blue Cliff College-Metairie?
Delta College of Arts & Technology: its completers carry a median $7,393 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Blue Cliff College-Metairie, a difference of $2,107. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
65% of students finish at Delta College of Arts & Technology, against 56% at Blue Cliff College-Metairie. 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.