Head-to-head comparison
Cuyahoga Community College District vs Case Western Reserve University: which has better ROI?
Option A Cleveland, OH
Cuyahoga Community College District
- Net price / year
- $4,266
- Earnings, 10 years
- $35,654
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Cleveland, OH
Case Western Reserve University
- Net price / year
- $41,190
- Earnings, 10 years
- $87,989
- Payback
- 4.2 yrs
Case Western Reserve University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $164,760 in 4.2 years versus not at all at Cuyahoga Community College District, on median earnings of $87,989 vs $35,654 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Cuyahoga Community College District | Case Western Reserve University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,266 | $41,190 |
| Total net cost | $17,064 | $164,760 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,654 | $87,989 |
| Median debt | $8,150 | $24,000 |
| Payback | — | 4.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$271,184 | $627,820 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Cuyahoga Community College District or Case Western Reserve University?
Cuyahoga Community College District, at $4,266 a year after aid versus $41,190 — a gap of $36,924 a year, or $147,696 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 Cuyahoga Community College District or Case Western Reserve University graduates earn more?
Case Western Reserve University graduates report a median $87,989 ten years after entry, $52,335 more than the $35,654 at Cuyahoga Community College District. 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, Cuyahoga Community College District or Case Western Reserve University?
Cuyahoga Community College District: its completers carry a median $8,150 in federal loans versus $24,000 at Case Western Reserve University, a difference of $15,850. 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?
87% of students finish at Case Western Reserve University, against 31% at Cuyahoga Community College District. 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.