Head-to-head comparison
Chadron State College vs Western Nebraska 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 Scottsbluff, NE
Western Nebraska Community College
- Net price / year
- $5,474
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,729
- 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 $38,729 at Western Nebraska Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Chadron State College | Western Nebraska Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,549 | $5,474 |
| Total net cost | $50,196 | $10,948 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,002 | $38,729 |
| Median debt | $18,875 | $9,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$77,356 | -$203,568 |
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 Western Nebraska Community College?
Western Nebraska Community College, at $5,474 a year after aid versus $12,549 — a gap of $7,075 a year, or $39,248 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 Western Nebraska Community College graduates earn more?
Chadron State College graduates report a median $47,002 ten years after entry, $8,273 more than the $38,729 at Western Nebraska 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 Western Nebraska Community College?
Western Nebraska Community College: its completers carry a median $9,000 in federal loans versus $18,875 at Chadron State College, a difference of $9,875. 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?
50% of students finish at Chadron State College, against 37% at Western Nebraska 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.