Head-to-head comparison
Barton County Community College vs Emporia State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Great Bend, KS
Barton County Community College
- Net price / year
- $9,905
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,428
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Emporia, KS
Emporia State University
- Net price / year
- $16,261
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,601
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Emporia State University comes closer — median earnings $47,601 against a $65,044 total, vs $40,428 at Barton County Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Barton County Community College | Emporia State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,905 | $16,261 |
| Total net cost | $39,620 | $65,044 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,428 | $47,601 |
| Median debt | $9,501 | $19,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$198,260 | -$80,224 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Barton County Community College or Emporia State University?
Barton County Community College, at $9,905 a year after aid versus $16,261 — a gap of $6,356 a year, or $25,424 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Barton County Community College or Emporia State University graduates earn more?
Emporia State University graduates report a median $47,601 ten years after entry, $7,173 more than the $40,428 at Barton County 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Barton County Community College or Emporia State University?
Barton County Community College: its completers carry a median $9,501 in federal loans versus $19,500 at Emporia State University, a difference of $9,999. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
56% of students finish at Emporia State University, against 33% at Barton County 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.