Western Nebraska Community College vs Nebraska Indian Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Western Nebraska Community College comes closer — median earnings $38,729 against a $10,948 total, vs $31,458 at Nebraska Indian Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Western Nebraska Community College | Nebraska Indian Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,474 | $23,334 |
| Total net cost | $10,948 | $46,668 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,729 | $31,458 |
| Median debt | $9,000 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$203,568 | -$384,708 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Western Nebraska Community College or Nebraska Indian Community College?
Western Nebraska Community College, at $5,474 a year after aid versus $23,334 — a gap of $17,860 a year, or $35,720 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 Nebraska Community College or Nebraska Indian Community College graduates earn more?
Western Nebraska Community College graduates report a median $38,729 ten years after entry, $7,271 more than the $31,458 at Nebraska Indian 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?
37% of students finish at Western Nebraska Community College, against 22% at Nebraska Indian 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.