Metropolitan Community College Area vs Mid-Plains Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Mid-Plains Community College comes closer — median earnings $40,059 against a $10,470 total, vs $38,773 at Metropolitan Community College Area. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Metropolitan Community College Area | Mid-Plains Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,982 | $5,235 |
| Total net cost | $9,964 | $10,470 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,773 | $40,059 |
| Median debt | $8,217 | $9,995 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$201,704 | -$176,490 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Metropolitan Community College Area or Mid-Plains Community College?
Metropolitan Community College Area, at $4,982 a year after aid versus $5,235 — a gap of $253 a year, or $506 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 Mid-Plains Community College graduates earn more?
Mid-Plains Community College graduates report a median $40,059 ten years after entry, $1,286 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 Mid-Plains Community College?
Metropolitan Community College Area: its completers carry a median $8,217 in federal loans versus $9,995 at Mid-Plains Community College, a difference of $1,778. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
54% of students finish at Mid-Plains Community College, 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.