Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City vs Columbia College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Columbia College comes closer — median earnings $45,378 against a $90,860 total, vs $40,796 at Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City | Columbia College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,398 | $22,715 |
| Total net cost | $16,796 | $90,860 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,796 | $45,378 |
| Median debt | $10,073 | $23,879 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$168,076 | -$150,500 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City or Columbia College?
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City, at $8,398 a year after aid versus $22,715 — a gap of $14,317 a year, or $74,064 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 Columbia College graduates earn more?
Columbia College graduates report a median $45,378 ten years after entry, $4,582 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 leaves students with less debt, Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City or Columbia College?
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City: its completers carry a median $10,073 in federal loans versus $23,879 at Columbia College, a difference of $13,806. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
42% of students finish at Columbia College, 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.