St Cloud Technical and Community College vs Bethany Lutheran College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but St Cloud Technical and Community College comes closer — median earnings $46,874 against a $19,270 total, vs $46,110 at Bethany Lutheran College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | St Cloud Technical and Community College | Bethany Lutheran College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,635 | $20,148 |
| Total net cost | $19,270 | $80,592 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,874 | $46,110 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $23,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$48,990 | -$125,592 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, St Cloud Technical and Community College or Bethany Lutheran College?
St Cloud Technical and Community College, at $9,635 a year after aid versus $20,148 — a gap of $10,513 a year, or $61,322 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 Cloud Technical and Community College or Bethany Lutheran College graduates earn more?
St Cloud Technical and Community College graduates report a median $46,874 ten years after entry, $764 more than the $46,110 at Bethany Lutheran 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 Cloud Technical and Community College or Bethany Lutheran College?
St Cloud Technical and Community College: its completers carry a median $12,000 in federal loans versus $23,000 at Bethany Lutheran College, a difference of $11,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
55% of students finish at Bethany Lutheran College, against 45% at St Cloud Technical and 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.