Fort Scott Community College vs Bellus Academy: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Fort Scott Community College comes closer — median earnings $37,213 against a $22,344 total, vs $25,223 at Bellus Academy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Fort Scott Community College | Bellus Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,586 | $26,631 |
| Total net cost | $22,344 | $106,524 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,213 | $25,223 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $7,917 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$245,284 | -$569,264 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Fort Scott Community College or Bellus Academy?
Fort Scott Community College, at $5,586 a year after aid versus $26,631 — a gap of $21,045 a year, or $84,180 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Fort Scott Community College or Bellus Academy graduates earn more?
Fort Scott Community College graduates report a median $37,213 ten years after entry, $11,990 more than the $25,223 at Bellus Academy. 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, Fort Scott Community College or Bellus Academy?
Bellus Academy: its completers carry a median $7,917 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Fort Scott Community College, a difference of $1,583. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
74% of students finish at Bellus Academy, against 35% at Fort Scott 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.