Metropolitan Community College Area vs Creighton University: which has better ROI?
Creighton University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $126,272 in 4.9 years versus not at all at Metropolitan Community College Area, on median earnings of $73,911 vs $38,773 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Metropolitan Community College Area | Creighton University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,982 | $31,568 |
| Total net cost | $9,964 | $126,272 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,773 | $73,911 |
| Median debt | $8,217 | $25,000 |
| Payback | — | 4.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$201,704 | $384,748 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Metropolitan Community College Area or Creighton University?
Metropolitan Community College Area, at $4,982 a year after aid versus $31,568 — a gap of $26,586 a year, or $116,308 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Metropolitan Community College Area or Creighton University graduates earn more?
Creighton University graduates report a median $73,911 ten years after entry, $35,138 more than the $38,773 at Metropolitan Community College Area. 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, Metropolitan Community College Area or Creighton University?
Metropolitan Community College Area: its completers carry a median $8,217 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Creighton University, a difference of $16,783. 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 Creighton University, against 29% at Metropolitan Community College Area. 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.