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Southeastern Community College vs Emmaus Bible College: which has better ROI?

Public, West Burlington IA · vs · Private nonprofit, Dubuque IA

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Emmaus Bible College comes closer — median earnings $42,631 against a $52,744 total, vs $36,882 at Southeastern Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureSoutheastern Community CollegeEmmaus Bible College
Net price / yr$12,347$13,186
Total net cost$49,388$52,744
Median earnings, 10 yrs$36,882$42,631
Median debt$12,000$15,750
Payback
20-year net return-$278,948-$167,324

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

Which is cheaper, Southeastern Community College or Emmaus Bible College?

Southeastern Community College, at $12,347 a year after aid versus $13,186 — a gap of $839 a year, or $3,356 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Southeastern Community College or Emmaus Bible College graduates earn more?

Emmaus Bible College graduates report a median $42,631 ten years after entry, $5,749 more than the $36,882 at Southeastern 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, Southeastern Community College or Emmaus Bible College?

Southeastern 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 43% at Southeastern 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.

Southeastern Community College vs Emmaus Bible College: frequently asked questions

Is Southeastern Community College or Emmaus Bible College a better value?
Emmaus Bible 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, Southeastern Community College or Emmaus Bible College?
Southeastern Community College: $12,347/yr net price after aid versus $13,186/yr at Emmaus Bible College — a difference of $839 a year, or about $3,356 over four years.
Do Southeastern Community College or Emmaus Bible College graduates earn more?
Emmaus Bible College graduates earn a median $42,631 ten years after entry, versus $36,882 at Southeastern Community College — a $5,749 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.