Degree Dividend
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Moberly Area Community College vs Cottey College: which has better ROI?

Public, Moberly MO · vs · Private nonprofit, Nevada MO

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Moberly Area Community College comes closer — median earnings $37,537 against a $13,620 total, vs $35,422 at Cottey College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureMoberly Area Community CollegeCottey College
Net price / yr$6,810$13,805
Total net cost$13,620$55,220
Median earnings, 10 yrs$37,537$35,422
Median debt$10,658$19,043
Payback
20-year net return-$230,080-$313,980

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Moberly Area Community College or Cottey College?

Moberly Area Community College, at $6,810 a year after aid versus $13,805 — a gap of $6,995 a year, or $41,600 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Moberly Area Community College or Cottey College graduates earn more?

Moberly Area Community College graduates report a median $37,537 ten years after entry, $2,115 more than the $35,422 at Cottey 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, Moberly Area Community College or Cottey College?

Moberly Area Community College: its completers carry a median $10,658 in federal loans versus $19,043 at Cottey College, a difference of $8,385. 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 44% at Moberly Area 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.

Moberly Area Community College vs Cottey College: frequently asked questions

Is Moberly Area Community College or Cottey College a better value?
Moberly Area Community College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Moberly Area Community College or Cottey College?
Moberly Area Community College: $6,810/yr net price after aid versus $13,805/yr at Cottey College — a difference of $6,995 a year, or about $41,600 over four years.
Do Moberly Area Community College or Cottey College graduates earn more?
Moberly Area Community College graduates earn a median $37,537 ten years after entry, versus $35,422 at Cottey College — a $2,115 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.