Degree Dividend
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Turtle Mountain College vs Cankdeska Cikana Community College: which has better ROI?

Private nonprofit, Belcourt ND · vs · Public, Fort Totten ND

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Turtle Mountain College comes closer — median earnings $32,079 against a $13,712 total, vs $17,008 at Cankdeska Cikana Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureTurtle Mountain CollegeCankdeska Cikana Community College
Net price / yr$3,428$6,507
Total net cost$13,712$13,014
Median earnings, 10 yrs$32,079$17,008
Median debt
Payback
20-year net return-$339,332-$640,054

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Turtle Mountain College or Cankdeska Cikana Community College?

Turtle Mountain College, at $3,428 a year after aid versus $6,507 — a gap of $3,079 a year, or $698 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Turtle Mountain College or Cankdeska Cikana Community College graduates earn more?

Turtle Mountain College graduates report a median $32,079 ten years after entry, $15,071 more than the $17,008 at Cankdeska Cikana 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 graduates more of its students?

43% of students finish at Turtle Mountain College, against 28% at Cankdeska Cikana 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.

Turtle Mountain College vs Cankdeska Cikana Community College: frequently asked questions

Is Turtle Mountain College or Cankdeska Cikana Community College a better value?
Turtle Mountain College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Turtle Mountain College or Cankdeska Cikana Community College?
Turtle Mountain College: $3,428/yr net price after aid versus $6,507/yr at Cankdeska Cikana Community College — a difference of $3,079 a year, or about $698 over four years.
Do Turtle Mountain College or Cankdeska Cikana Community College graduates earn more?
Turtle Mountain College graduates earn a median $32,079 ten years after entry, versus $17,008 at Cankdeska Cikana Community College — a $15,071 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.