Southwestern Michigan College vs College for Creative Studies: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but College for Creative Studies comes closer — median earnings $44,860 against a $138,468 total, vs $37,303 at Southwestern Michigan College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southwestern Michigan College | College for Creative Studies |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,978 | $34,617 |
| Total net cost | $11,956 | $138,468 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,303 | $44,860 |
| Median debt | $10,959 | $26,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$233,096 | -$208,468 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Southwestern Michigan College or College for Creative Studies?
Southwestern Michigan College, at $5,978 a year after aid versus $34,617 — a gap of $28,639 a year, or $126,512 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 Michigan College or College for Creative Studies graduates earn more?
College for Creative Studies graduates report a median $44,860 ten years after entry, $7,557 more than the $37,303 at Southwestern Michigan 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 Michigan College or College for Creative Studies?
Southwestern Michigan College: its completers carry a median $10,959 in federal loans versus $26,000 at College for Creative Studies, a difference of $15,041. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
71% of students finish at College for Creative Studies, against 38% at Southwestern Michigan 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.