Head-to-head comparison
East Central College vs College of the Ozarks: which has better ROI?
Option A Union, MO
East Central College
- Net price / year
- $13,128
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,916
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Point Lookout, MO
College of the Ozarks
- Net price / year
- $6,100
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,592
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but College of the Ozarks comes closer — median earnings $41,592 against a $24,400 total, vs $36,916 at East Central College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | East Central College | College of the Ozarks |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,128 | $6,100 |
| Total net cost | $26,256 | $24,400 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,916 | $41,592 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$255,136 | -$159,760 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, East Central College or College of the Ozarks?
College of the Ozarks, at $6,100 a year after aid versus $13,128 — a gap of $7,028 a year, or $1,856 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 East Central College or College of the Ozarks graduates earn more?
College of the Ozarks graduates report a median $41,592 ten years after entry, $4,676 more than the $36,916 at East Central 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?
64% of students finish at College of the Ozarks, against 48% at East Central 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.