Head-to-head comparison
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College vs Xavier University: which has better ROI?
Option A Cincinnati, OH
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
- Net price / year
- $4,968
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,137
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Cincinnati, OH
Xavier University
- Net price / year
- $32,997
- Earnings, 10 years
- $64,873
- Payback
- 8 yrs
Xavier University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $131,988 in 8 years versus not at all at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, on median earnings of $64,873 vs $40,137 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Cincinnati State Technical and Community College | Xavier University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,968 | $32,997 |
| Total net cost | $19,872 | $131,988 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,137 | $64,873 |
| Median debt | $14,715 | $23,250 |
| Payback | — | 8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$184,332 | $198,272 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College or Xavier University?
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, at $4,968 a year after aid versus $32,997 — a gap of $28,029 a year, or $112,116 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 Cincinnati State Technical and Community College or Xavier University graduates earn more?
Xavier University graduates report a median $64,873 ten years after entry, $24,736 more than the $40,137 at Cincinnati State Technical and 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, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College or Xavier University?
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College: its completers carry a median $14,715 in federal loans versus $23,250 at Xavier University, a difference of $8,535. 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?
69% of students finish at Xavier University, against 16% at Cincinnati State Technical and 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.