Head-to-head comparison
Ellsworth Community College vs Emmaus Bible College: which has better ROI?
Option A Iowa Falls, IA
Ellsworth Community College
- Net price / year
- $11,451
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,562
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Dubuque, IA
Emmaus Bible College
- Net price / year
- $13,186
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,631
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Emmaus Bible College comes closer — median earnings $42,631 against a $52,744 total, vs $40,562 at Ellsworth Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ellsworth Community College | Emmaus Bible College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,451 | $13,186 |
| Total net cost | $22,902 | $52,744 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,562 | $42,631 |
| Median debt | $10,000 | $15,750 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$178,862 | -$167,324 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Ellsworth Community College or Emmaus Bible College?
Ellsworth Community College, at $11,451 a year after aid versus $13,186 — a gap of $1,735 a year, or $29,842 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 Ellsworth Community College or Emmaus Bible College graduates earn more?
Emmaus Bible College graduates report a median $42,631 ten years after entry, $2,069 more than the $40,562 at Ellsworth 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, Ellsworth Community College or Emmaus Bible College?
Ellsworth Community College: its completers carry a median $10,000 in federal loans versus $15,750 at Emmaus Bible College, a difference of $5,750. 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?
83% of students finish at Emmaus Bible College, against 38% at Ellsworth 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.