Degree Dividend
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Labette Community College vs Bellus Academy: which has better ROI?

Public, Parsons KS · vs · Private for-profit, Manhattan KS

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Labette Community College comes closer — median earnings $37,818 against a $11,878 total, vs $25,223 at Bellus Academy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureLabette Community CollegeBellus Academy
Net price / yr$5,939$26,631
Total net cost$11,878$106,524
Median earnings, 10 yrs$37,818$25,223
Median debt$10,500$7,917
Payback
20-year net return-$222,718-$569,264

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Labette Community College or Bellus Academy?

Labette Community College, at $5,939 a year after aid versus $26,631 — a gap of $20,692 a year, or $94,646 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Labette Community College or Bellus Academy graduates earn more?

Labette Community College graduates report a median $37,818 ten years after entry, $12,595 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, Labette Community College or Bellus Academy?

Bellus Academy: its completers carry a median $7,917 in federal loans versus $10,500 at Labette Community College, a difference of $2,583. 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 24% at Labette 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.

Labette Community College vs Bellus Academy: frequently asked questions

Is Labette Community College or Bellus Academy a better value?
Labette Community College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Labette Community College or Bellus Academy?
Labette Community College: $5,939/yr net price after aid versus $26,631/yr at Bellus Academy — a difference of $20,692 a year, or about $94,646 over four years.
Do Labette Community College or Bellus Academy graduates earn more?
Labette Community College graduates earn a median $37,818 ten years after entry, versus $25,223 at Bellus Academy — a $12,595 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.