Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Northeast Iowa Community College vs Emmaus Bible College: which has better ROI?

Public, Calmar IA · vs · Private nonprofit, Dubuque IA

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Northeast Iowa Community College comes closer — median earnings $41,306 against a $22,544 total, vs $42,631 at Emmaus Bible College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureNortheast Iowa Community CollegeEmmaus Bible College
Net price / yr$11,272$13,186
Total net cost$22,544$52,744
Median earnings, 10 yrs$41,306$42,631
Median debt$12,000$15,750
Payback
20-year net return-$163,624-$167,324

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

Which is cheaper, Northeast Iowa Community College or Emmaus Bible College?

Northeast Iowa Community College, at $11,272 a year after aid versus $13,186 — a gap of $1,914 a year, or $30,200 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 Iowa Community College or Emmaus Bible College graduates earn more?

Emmaus Bible College graduates report a median $42,631 ten years after entry, $1,325 more than the $41,306 at Northeast Iowa 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 Iowa Community College or Emmaus Bible College?

Northeast Iowa Community College: its completers carry a median $12,000 in federal loans versus $15,750 at Emmaus Bible College, a difference of $3,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

83% of students finish at Emmaus Bible College, against 51% at Northeast Iowa 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.

Northeast Iowa Community College vs Emmaus Bible College: frequently asked questions

Is Northeast Iowa Community College or Emmaus Bible College a better value?
Northeast Iowa 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, Northeast Iowa Community College or Emmaus Bible College?
Northeast Iowa Community College: $11,272/yr net price after aid versus $13,186/yr at Emmaus Bible College — a difference of $1,914 a year, or about $30,200 over four years.
Do Northeast Iowa Community College or Emmaus Bible College graduates earn more?
Emmaus Bible College graduates earn a median $42,631 ten years after entry, versus $41,306 at Northeast Iowa Community College — a $1,325 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.