Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City vs College of the Ozarks: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but College of the Ozarks comes closer — median earnings $41,592 against a $24,400 total, vs $40,796 at Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City | College of the Ozarks |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,398 | $6,100 |
| Total net cost | $16,796 | $24,400 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,796 | $41,592 |
| Median debt | $10,073 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$168,076 | -$159,760 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City or College of the Ozarks?
College of the Ozarks, at $6,100 a year after aid versus $8,398 — a gap of $2,298 a year, or $7,604 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-Kansas City or College of the Ozarks graduates earn more?
College of the Ozarks graduates report a median $41,592 ten years after entry, $796 more than the $40,796 at Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City. 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?
64% of students finish at College of the Ozarks, against 34% at Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City. 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.