Barton County Community College vs Wichita State University
A side-by-side look at cost, graduate earnings, debt and return on investment. The better figure in each row is highlighted.
| Barton County Community College Great Bend, KS | Wichita State University Wichita, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Break-even |
| 10-year ROI | +486% | +22% |
| 10-year net gain | $112,998 | $12,974 |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $58,627 | $52,322 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $44,523 | $47,524 |
| Average net price | $9,905 | $13,194 |
| Median debt | $9,501 | $20,500 |
| Break-even | 1.7 yrs | 8.2 yrs |
| Graduation rate | — | 51% |
| Admission rate | — | 94% |
Barton County Community College
Strong return
+$112,998 over 10 years
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
Wichita State University
Break-even
+$12,974 over 10 years
The payoff is roughly break-even — the degree recovers its cost, but slowly.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.