Head-to-head comparison
Central Community College vs Wayne State College: which has better ROI?
Option A Grand Island, NE
Central Community College
- Net price / year
- $7,024
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,429
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Wayne, NE
Wayne State College
- Net price / year
- $15,360
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,075
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Wayne State College comes closer — median earnings $47,075 against a $61,440 total, vs $39,429 at Central Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Central Community College | Wayne State College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,024 | $15,360 |
| Total net cost | $28,096 | $61,440 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,429 | $47,075 |
| Median debt | $7,992 | $19,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$206,716 | -$87,140 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Central Community College or Wayne State College?
Central Community College, at $7,024 a year after aid versus $15,360 — a gap of $8,336 a year, or $33,344 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 Central Community College or Wayne State College graduates earn more?
Wayne State College graduates report a median $47,075 ten years after entry, $7,646 more than the $39,429 at Central 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, Central Community College or Wayne State College?
Central Community College: its completers carry a median $7,992 in federal loans versus $19,000 at Wayne State College, a difference of $11,008. 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?
52% of students finish at Wayne State College, against 48% at Central 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.