Independence Community College vs Bellus Academy: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Independence Community College comes closer — median earnings $34,941 against a $6,530 total, vs $25,223 at Bellus Academy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Independence Community College | Bellus Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,265 | $26,631 |
| Total net cost | $6,530 | $106,524 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,941 | $25,223 |
| Median debt | $6,115 | $7,917 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$274,910 | -$569,264 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Independence Community College or Bellus Academy?
Independence Community College, at $3,265 a year after aid versus $26,631 — a gap of $23,366 a year, or $99,994 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Independence Community College or Bellus Academy graduates earn more?
Independence Community College graduates report a median $34,941 ten years after entry, $9,718 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, Independence Community College or Bellus Academy?
Independence Community College: its completers carry a median $6,115 in federal loans versus $7,917 at Bellus Academy, a difference of $1,802. 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 26% at Independence 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.