Monroe County Community College vs College for Creative Studies: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Monroe County Community College comes closer — median earnings $41,646 against a $9,172 total, vs $44,860 at College for Creative Studies. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Monroe County Community College | College for Creative Studies |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,586 | $34,617 |
| Total net cost | $9,172 | $138,468 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,646 | $44,860 |
| Median debt | $12,296 | $26,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$143,452 | -$208,468 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Monroe County Community College or College for Creative Studies?
Monroe County Community College, at $4,586 a year after aid versus $34,617 — a gap of $30,031 a year, or $129,296 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Monroe County Community College or College for Creative Studies graduates earn more?
College for Creative Studies graduates report a median $44,860 ten years after entry, $3,214 more than the $41,646 at Monroe County Community 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, Monroe County Community College or College for Creative Studies?
Monroe County Community College: its completers carry a median $12,296 in federal loans versus $26,000 at College for Creative Studies, a difference of $13,704. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
71% of students finish at College for Creative Studies, against 34% at Monroe County 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.