Mineral Area College vs Cottey College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Mineral Area College comes closer — median earnings $35,352 against a $24,090 total, vs $35,422 at Cottey College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Mineral Area College | Cottey College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,045 | $13,805 |
| Total net cost | $24,090 | $55,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,352 | $35,422 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $19,043 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$284,250 | -$313,980 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Mineral Area College or Cottey College?
Mineral Area College, at $12,045 a year after aid versus $13,805 — a gap of $1,760 a year, or $31,130 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Mineral Area College or Cottey College graduates earn more?
Cottey College graduates report a median $35,422 ten years after entry, $70 more than the $35,352 at Mineral Area 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 leaves students with less debt, Mineral Area College or Cottey College?
Mineral Area College: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $19,043 at Cottey College, a difference of $8,543. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
56% of students finish at Cottey College, against 49% at Mineral Area 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.