North Hennepin Community College vs Macalester College: which has better ROI?
Macalester College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $128,596 in 8.3 years versus 8.8 years at North Hennepin Community College, on median earnings of $63,878 vs $51,142 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | North Hennepin Community College | Macalester College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,186 | $32,149 |
| Total net cost | $24,372 | $128,596 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,142 | $63,878 |
| Median debt | $14,750 | $23,000 |
| Payback | 8.8 yrs | 8.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $31,268 | $181,764 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, North Hennepin Community College or Macalester College?
North Hennepin Community College, at $12,186 a year after aid versus $32,149 — a gap of $19,963 a year, or $104,224 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 Hennepin Community College or Macalester College graduates earn more?
Macalester College graduates report a median $63,878 ten years after entry, $12,736 more than the $51,142 at North Hennepin 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, North Hennepin Community College or Macalester College?
North Hennepin Community College: its completers carry a median $14,750 in federal loans versus $23,000 at Macalester College, a difference of $8,250. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
87% of students finish at Macalester College, against 22% at North Hennepin 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.