Kansas City Art Institute vs Cottey College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Cottey College comes closer — median earnings $35,422 against a $55,220 total, vs $37,032 at Kansas City Art Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Kansas City Art Institute | Cottey College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $27,650 | $13,805 |
| Total net cost | $110,600 | $55,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,032 | $35,422 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $19,043 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$337,160 | -$313,980 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Kansas City Art Institute or Cottey College?
Cottey College, at $13,805 a year after aid versus $27,650 — a gap of $13,845 a year, or $55,380 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Kansas City Art Institute or Cottey College graduates earn more?
Kansas City Art Institute graduates report a median $37,032 ten years after entry, $1,610 more than the $35,422 at Cottey 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, Kansas City Art Institute or Cottey College?
Cottey College: its completers carry a median $19,043 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Kansas City Art Institute, a difference of $7,957. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
58% of students finish at Kansas City Art Institute, against 56% at Cottey 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.