Pinnacle Career Institute vs Cottey College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Cottey College comes closer — median earnings $35,422 against a $55,220 total, vs $34,213 at Pinnacle Career Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pinnacle Career Institute | Cottey College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,732 | $13,805 |
| Total net cost | $114,928 | $55,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,213 | $35,422 |
| Median debt | $11,605 | $19,043 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$397,868 | -$313,980 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Pinnacle Career Institute or Cottey College?
Cottey College, at $13,805 a year after aid versus $28,732 — a gap of $14,927 a year, or $59,708 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Pinnacle Career Institute or Cottey College graduates earn more?
Cottey College graduates report a median $35,422 ten years after entry, $1,209 more than the $34,213 at Pinnacle Career Institute. 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, Pinnacle Career Institute or Cottey College?
Pinnacle Career Institute: its completers carry a median $11,605 in federal loans versus $19,043 at Cottey College, a difference of $7,438. 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 Cottey College, against 52% at Pinnacle Career Institute. 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.