Skip to content
degreedividend.
ROI calculator
Independent college researchBuilt on federal dataNo rankings for sale

Head-to-head comparison

Cornerstone University vs Bay Mills Community College: which has better ROI?

Private nonprofit, Grand Rapids MI · vs · Public, Brimley MI

By the Degree Dividend editorial data teamEvery figure verified against its federal source — methodologyData updated June 2026

Option A Grand Rapids, MI

Cornerstone University

Net price / year
$20,301
Earnings, 10 years
$47,314
Payback
No payback

Option B Brimley, MI

Bay Mills Community College

Net price / year
$3,073
Earnings, 10 years
$30,048
Payback
No payback
The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Cornerstone University comes closer — median earnings $47,314 against a $81,204 total, vs $30,048 at Bay Mills Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureCornerstone UniversityBay Mills Community College
Net price / yr$20,301$3,073
Total net cost$81,204$12,292
Median earnings, 10 yrs$47,314$30,048
Median debt$25,000—
Payback——
20-year net return-$102,124-$378,532

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

The short answer

Which is cheaper, Cornerstone University or Bay Mills Community College?

Bay Mills Community College, at $3,073 a year after aid versus $20,301 — a gap of $17,228 a year, or $68,912 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 Cornerstone University or Bay Mills Community College graduates earn more?

Cornerstone University graduates report a median $47,314 ten years after entry, $17,266 more than the $30,048 at Bay Mills 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 graduates more of its students?

62% of students finish at Cornerstone University, against 30% at Bay Mills 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.

Cornerstone University vs Bay Mills Community College: frequently asked questions

Is Cornerstone University or Bay Mills Community College a better value?
Cornerstone University comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Cornerstone University or Bay Mills Community College?
Bay Mills Community College: $3,073/yr net price after aid versus $20,301/yr at Cornerstone University — a difference of $17,228 a year, or about $68,912 over four years.
Do Cornerstone University or Bay Mills Community College graduates earn more?
Cornerstone University graduates earn a median $47,314 ten years after entry, versus $30,048 at Bay Mills Community College — a $17,266 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.