Head-to-head comparison
College for Creative Studies vs North Central Michigan College: which has better ROI?
Option A Detroit, MI
College for Creative Studies
- Net price / year
- $34,617
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,860
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Petoskey, MI
North Central Michigan College
- Net price / year
- $10,083
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,594
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but College for Creative Studies comes closer — median earnings $44,860 against a $138,468 total, vs $36,594 at North Central Michigan College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | College for Creative Studies | North Central Michigan College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,617 | $10,083 |
| Total net cost | $138,468 | $20,166 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,860 | $36,594 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $14,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$208,468 | -$255,486 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, College for Creative Studies or North Central Michigan College?
North Central Michigan College, at $10,083 a year after aid versus $34,617 — a gap of $24,534 a year, or $118,302 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 College for Creative Studies or North Central Michigan College graduates earn more?
College for Creative Studies graduates report a median $44,860 ten years after entry, $8,266 more than the $36,594 at North Central Michigan 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, College for Creative Studies or North Central Michigan College?
North Central Michigan College: its completers carry a median $14,000 in federal loans versus $26,000 at College for Creative Studies, a difference of $12,000. 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?
71% of students finish at College for Creative Studies, against 29% at North Central Michigan 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.