St Charles Community College vs College of the Ozarks: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but St Charles Community College comes closer — median earnings $42,422 against a $11,674 total, vs $41,592 at College of the Ozarks. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | St Charles Community College | College of the Ozarks |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,837 | $6,100 |
| Total net cost | $11,674 | $24,400 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,422 | $41,592 |
| Median debt | $6,187 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$130,434 | -$159,760 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, St Charles Community College or College of the Ozarks?
St Charles Community College, at $5,837 a year after aid versus $6,100 — a gap of $263 a year, or $12,726 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do St Charles Community College or College of the Ozarks graduates earn more?
St Charles Community College graduates report a median $42,422 ten years after entry, $830 more than the $41,592 at College of the Ozarks. 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 graduates more of its students?
64% of students finish at College of the Ozarks, against 25% at St Charles 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.