Head-to-head comparison
Graceland University-Lamoni vs Ellsworth Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Lamoni, IA
Graceland University-Lamoni
- Net price / year
- $18,504
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,361
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Iowa Falls, IA
Ellsworth Community College
- Net price / year
- $11,451
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,562
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Graceland University-Lamoni comes closer — median earnings $47,361 against a $74,016 total, vs $40,562 at Ellsworth Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Graceland University-Lamoni | Ellsworth Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,504 | $11,451 |
| Total net cost | $74,016 | $22,902 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,361 | $40,562 |
| Median debt | $21,212 | $10,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$93,996 | -$178,862 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Graceland University-Lamoni or Ellsworth Community College?
Ellsworth Community College, at $11,451 a year after aid versus $18,504 — a gap of $7,053 a year, or $51,114 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 Graceland University-Lamoni or Ellsworth Community College graduates earn more?
Graceland University-Lamoni graduates report a median $47,361 ten years after entry, $6,799 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, Graceland University-Lamoni or Ellsworth Community College?
Ellsworth Community College: its completers carry a median $10,000 in federal loans versus $21,212 at Graceland University-Lamoni, a difference of $11,212. 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?
42% of students finish at Graceland University-Lamoni, 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.