Metropolitan Community College Area vs Nebraska Indian Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Metropolitan Community College Area comes closer — median earnings $38,773 against a $9,964 total, vs $31,458 at Nebraska Indian Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Metropolitan Community College Area | Nebraska Indian Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,982 | $23,334 |
| Total net cost | $9,964 | $46,668 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,773 | $31,458 |
| Median debt | $8,217 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$201,704 | -$384,708 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Metropolitan Community College Area or Nebraska Indian Community College?
Metropolitan Community College Area, at $4,982 a year after aid versus $23,334 — a gap of $18,352 a year, or $36,704 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 Nebraska Indian Community College graduates earn more?
Metropolitan Community College Area graduates report a median $38,773 ten years after entry, $7,315 more than the $31,458 at Nebraska Indian 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 graduates more of its students?
29% of students finish at Metropolitan Community College Area, against 22% at Nebraska Indian 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.