Minnesota West Community and Technical College vs Bethany Lutheran College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Minnesota West Community and Technical College comes closer — median earnings $45,285 against a $44,764 total, vs $46,110 at Bethany Lutheran College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Minnesota West Community and Technical College | Bethany Lutheran College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,191 | $20,148 |
| Total net cost | $44,764 | $80,592 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,285 | $46,110 |
| Median debt | $10,987 | $23,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$106,264 | -$125,592 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Minnesota West Community and Technical College or Bethany Lutheran College?
Minnesota West Community and Technical College, at $11,191 a year after aid versus $20,148 — a gap of $8,957 a year, or $35,828 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Minnesota West Community and Technical College or Bethany Lutheran College graduates earn more?
Bethany Lutheran College graduates report a median $46,110 ten years after entry, $825 more than the $45,285 at Minnesota West Community and Technical 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, Minnesota West Community and Technical College or Bethany Lutheran College?
Minnesota West Community and Technical College: its completers carry a median $10,987 in federal loans versus $23,000 at Bethany Lutheran College, a difference of $12,013. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
55% of students finish at Bethany Lutheran College, against 52% at Minnesota West Community and Technical 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.