St Charles Community College vs Cottey College: 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 $35,422 at Cottey College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | St Charles Community College | Cottey College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,837 | $13,805 |
| Total net cost | $11,674 | $55,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,422 | $35,422 |
| Median debt | $6,187 | $19,043 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$130,434 | -$313,980 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, St Charles Community College or Cottey College?
St Charles Community College, at $5,837 a year after aid versus $13,805 — a gap of $7,968 a year, or $43,546 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 Cottey College graduates earn more?
St Charles Community College graduates report a median $42,422 ten years after entry, $7,000 more than the $35,422 at Cottey 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, St Charles Community College or Cottey College?
St Charles Community College: its completers carry a median $6,187 in federal loans versus $19,043 at Cottey College, a difference of $12,856. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
56% of students finish at Cottey College, 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.