Iowa Lakes Community College vs Emmaus Bible College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Iowa Lakes Community College comes closer — median earnings $43,108 against a $27,866 total, vs $42,631 at Emmaus Bible College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Iowa Lakes Community College | Emmaus Bible College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,933 | $13,186 |
| Total net cost | $27,866 | $52,744 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,108 | $42,631 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $15,750 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$132,906 | -$167,324 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Iowa Lakes Community College or Emmaus Bible College?
Emmaus Bible College, at $13,186 a year after aid versus $13,933 — a gap of $747 a year, or $24,878 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Iowa Lakes Community College or Emmaus Bible College graduates earn more?
Iowa Lakes Community College graduates report a median $43,108 ten years after entry, $477 more than the $42,631 at Emmaus Bible 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, Iowa Lakes Community College or Emmaus Bible College?
Iowa Lakes Community College: its completers carry a median $12,000 in federal loans versus $15,750 at Emmaus Bible College, a difference of $3,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
83% of students finish at Emmaus Bible College, against 50% at Iowa Lakes 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.