North Central Missouri College vs Cottey College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but North Central Missouri College comes closer — median earnings $40,837 against a $27,252 total, vs $35,422 at Cottey College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | North Central Missouri College | Cottey College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,626 | $13,805 |
| Total net cost | $27,252 | $55,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,837 | $35,422 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $19,043 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$177,712 | -$313,980 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, North Central Missouri College or Cottey College?
North Central Missouri College, at $13,626 a year after aid versus $13,805 — a gap of $179 a year, or $27,968 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do North Central Missouri College or Cottey College graduates earn more?
North Central Missouri College graduates report a median $40,837 ten years after entry, $5,415 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, North Central Missouri College or Cottey College?
North Central Missouri 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?
58% of students finish at North Central Missouri College, against 56% at Cottey 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.