Western Iowa Tech Community College vs Ellsworth Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Ellsworth Community College comes closer — median earnings $40,562 against a $22,902 total, vs $40,473 at Western Iowa Tech Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Western Iowa Tech Community College | Ellsworth Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,770 | $11,451 |
| Total net cost | $35,080 | $22,902 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,473 | $40,562 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $10,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$192,820 | -$178,862 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Western Iowa Tech Community College or Ellsworth Community College?
Western Iowa Tech Community College, at $8,770 a year after aid versus $11,451 — a gap of $2,681 a year, or $12,178 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Western Iowa Tech Community College or Ellsworth Community College graduates earn more?
Ellsworth Community College graduates report a median $40,562 ten years after entry, $89 more than the $40,473 at Western Iowa Tech 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 leaves students with less debt, Western Iowa Tech Community College or Ellsworth Community College?
Ellsworth Community College: its completers carry a median $10,000 in federal loans versus $11,000 at Western Iowa Tech Community College, a difference of $1,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
50% of students finish at Western Iowa Tech Community College, against 38% at Ellsworth 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.