Highland Community College vs Cloud County Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Highland Community College comes closer — median earnings $41,291 against a $41,816 total, vs $39,883 at Cloud County Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Highland Community College | Cloud County Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,454 | $11,685 |
| Total net cost | $41,816 | $46,740 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,291 | $39,883 |
| Median debt | $8,277 | $8,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$183,196 | -$216,280 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Highland Community College or Cloud County Community College?
Highland Community College, at $10,454 a year after aid versus $11,685 — a gap of $1,231 a year, or $4,924 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Highland Community College or Cloud County Community College graduates earn more?
Highland Community College graduates report a median $41,291 ten years after entry, $1,408 more than the $39,883 at Cloud County 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 leaves students with less debt, Highland Community College or Cloud County Community College?
Cloud County Community College: its completers carry a median $8,000 in federal loans versus $8,277 at Highland Community College, a difference of $277. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
55% of students finish at Cloud County Community College, against 39% at Highland 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.