Southwestern Community College vs Ellsworth Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Ellsworth Community College comes closer — median earnings $40,562 against a $22,902 total, vs $40,129 at Southwestern Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southwestern Community College | Ellsworth Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,871 | $11,451 |
| Total net cost | $39,484 | $22,902 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,129 | $40,562 |
| Median debt | $10,975 | $10,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$204,104 | -$178,862 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Southwestern Community College or Ellsworth Community College?
Southwestern Community College, at $9,871 a year after aid versus $11,451 — a gap of $1,580 a year, or $16,582 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Southwestern Community College or Ellsworth Community College graduates earn more?
Ellsworth Community College graduates report a median $40,562 ten years after entry, $433 more than the $40,129 at Southwestern 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, Southwestern Community College or Ellsworth Community College?
Ellsworth Community College: its completers carry a median $10,000 in federal loans versus $10,975 at Southwestern Community College, a difference of $975. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
59% of students finish at Southwestern Community College, against 38% at Ellsworth 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.