Northeast Community College vs Mid-Plains Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Northeast Community College comes closer — median earnings $42,634 against a $17,088 total, vs $40,059 at Mid-Plains Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Northeast Community College | Mid-Plains Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,544 | $5,235 |
| Total net cost | $17,088 | $10,470 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,634 | $40,059 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $9,995 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$131,608 | -$176,490 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Northeast Community College or Mid-Plains Community College?
Mid-Plains Community College, at $5,235 a year after aid versus $8,544 — a gap of $3,309 a year, or $6,618 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Northeast Community College or Mid-Plains Community College graduates earn more?
Northeast Community College graduates report a median $42,634 ten years after entry, $2,575 more than the $40,059 at Mid-Plains 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, Northeast Community College or Mid-Plains Community College?
Mid-Plains Community College: its completers carry a median $9,995 in federal loans versus $11,000 at Northeast Community College, a difference of $1,005. 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 Northeast Community College, against 54% at Mid-Plains 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.