Saint Louis Community College vs Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City comes closer — median earnings $40,796 against a $16,796 total, vs $35,325 at Saint Louis Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Saint Louis Community College | Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,440 | $8,398 |
| Total net cost | $16,880 | $16,796 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,325 | $40,796 |
| Median debt | $6,725 | $10,073 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$277,580 | -$168,076 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Saint Louis Community College or Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City?
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City, at $8,398 a year after aid versus $8,440 — a gap of $42 a year, or $84 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Saint Louis Community College or Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City graduates earn more?
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City graduates report a median $40,796 ten years after entry, $5,471 more than the $35,325 at Saint Louis 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, Saint Louis Community College or Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City?
Saint Louis Community College: its completers carry a median $6,725 in federal loans versus $10,073 at Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City, a difference of $3,348. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
34% of students finish at Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City, against 21% at Saint Louis 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.