Head-to-head comparison
Chadron State College vs Mid-Plains Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Chadron, NE
Chadron State College
- Net price / year
- $12,549
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,002
- Payback
- No payback
Option B North Platte, NE
Mid-Plains Community College
- Net price / year
- $5,235
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,059
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Chadron State College comes closer — median earnings $47,002 against a $50,196 total, vs $40,059 at Mid-Plains Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Chadron State College | Mid-Plains Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,549 | $5,235 |
| Total net cost | $50,196 | $10,470 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,002 | $40,059 |
| Median debt | $18,875 | $9,995 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$77,356 | -$176,490 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Chadron State College or Mid-Plains Community College?
Mid-Plains Community College, at $5,235 a year after aid versus $12,549 — a gap of $7,314 a year, or $39,726 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 Chadron State College or Mid-Plains Community College graduates earn more?
Chadron State College graduates report a median $47,002 ten years after entry, $6,943 more than the $40,059 at Mid-Plains 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, Chadron State College or Mid-Plains Community College?
Mid-Plains Community College: its completers carry a median $9,995 in federal loans versus $18,875 at Chadron State College, a difference of $8,880. 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?
54% of students finish at Mid-Plains Community College, against 50% at Chadron State 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.