Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Henry Ford College vs Bay de Noc Community College: which has better ROI?

Public, Dearborn MI · vs · Public, Escanaba MI

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Henry Ford College comes closer — median earnings $34,795 against a $2,640 total, vs $35,090 at Bay de Noc Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureHenry Ford CollegeBay de Noc Community College
Net price / yr$660$11,949
Total net cost$2,640$23,898
Median earnings, 10 yrs$34,795$35,090
Median debt$14,250$12,618
Payback
20-year net return-$273,940-$289,298

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Henry Ford College or Bay de Noc Community College?

Henry Ford College, at $660 a year after aid versus $11,949 — a gap of $11,289 a year, or $21,258 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Henry Ford College or Bay de Noc Community College graduates earn more?

Bay de Noc Community College graduates report a median $35,090 ten years after entry, $295 more than the $34,795 at Henry Ford 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, Henry Ford College or Bay de Noc Community College?

Bay de Noc Community College: its completers carry a median $12,618 in federal loans versus $14,250 at Henry Ford College, a difference of $1,632. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

30% of students finish at Bay de Noc Community College, against 17% at Henry Ford 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.

Henry Ford College vs Bay de Noc Community College: frequently asked questions

Is Henry Ford College or Bay de Noc Community College a better value?
Henry Ford College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Henry Ford College or Bay de Noc Community College?
Henry Ford College: $660/yr net price after aid versus $11,949/yr at Bay de Noc Community College — a difference of $11,289 a year, or about $21,258 over four years.
Do Henry Ford College or Bay de Noc Community College graduates earn more?
Bay de Noc Community College graduates earn a median $35,090 ten years after entry, versus $34,795 at Henry Ford College — a $295 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.