Ivy Tech Community College vs Calumet College of Saint Joseph: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Calumet College of Saint Joseph comes closer — median earnings $46,945 against a $89,804 total, vs $37,186 at Ivy Tech Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ivy Tech Community College | Calumet College of Saint Joseph |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,258 | $22,451 |
| Total net cost | $29,032 | $89,804 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,186 | $46,945 |
| Median debt | $10,727 | $21,534 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$252,512 | -$118,104 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Ivy Tech Community College or Calumet College of Saint Joseph?
Ivy Tech Community College, at $7,258 a year after aid versus $22,451 — a gap of $15,193 a year, or $60,772 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Ivy Tech Community College or Calumet College of Saint Joseph graduates earn more?
Calumet College of Saint Joseph graduates report a median $46,945 ten years after entry, $9,759 more than the $37,186 at Ivy Tech 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, Ivy Tech Community College or Calumet College of Saint Joseph?
Ivy Tech Community College: its completers carry a median $10,727 in federal loans versus $21,534 at Calumet College of Saint Joseph, a difference of $10,807. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
41% of students finish at Ivy Tech Community College, against 23% at Calumet College of Saint Joseph. 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.