Macomb Community College vs College for Creative Studies: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Macomb Community College comes closer — median earnings $41,596 against a $3,236 total, vs $44,860 at College for Creative Studies. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Macomb Community College | College for Creative Studies |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $1,618 | $34,617 |
| Total net cost | $3,236 | $138,468 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,596 | $44,860 |
| Median debt | $6,000 | $26,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$138,516 | -$208,468 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Macomb Community College or College for Creative Studies?
Macomb Community College, at $1,618 a year after aid versus $34,617 — a gap of $32,999 a year, or $135,232 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Macomb Community College or College for Creative Studies graduates earn more?
College for Creative Studies graduates report a median $44,860 ten years after entry, $3,264 more than the $41,596 at Macomb 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, Macomb Community College or College for Creative Studies?
Macomb Community College: its completers carry a median $6,000 in federal loans versus $26,000 at College for Creative Studies, a difference of $20,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
71% of students finish at College for Creative Studies, against 18% at Macomb 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.