Head-to-head comparison
Independence Community College vs Central Christian College of Kansas: which has better ROI?
Option A Independence, KS
Independence Community College
- Net price / year
- $3,265
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,941
- Payback
- No payback
Option B McPherson, KS
Central Christian College of Kansas
- Net price / year
- $11,404
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,468
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Central Christian College of Kansas comes closer — median earnings $44,468 against a $45,616 total, vs $34,941 at Independence Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Independence Community College | Central Christian College of Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,265 | $11,404 |
| Total net cost | $6,530 | $45,616 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,941 | $44,468 |
| Median debt | $6,115 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$274,910 | -$123,456 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Independence Community College or Central Christian College of Kansas?
Independence Community College, at $3,265 a year after aid versus $11,404 — a gap of $8,139 a year, or $39,086 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 Independence Community College or Central Christian College of Kansas graduates earn more?
Central Christian College of Kansas graduates report a median $44,468 ten years after entry, $9,527 more than the $34,941 at Independence 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, Independence Community College or Central Christian College of Kansas?
Independence Community College: its completers carry a median $6,115 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Central Christian College of Kansas, a difference of $20,885. 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?
27% of students finish at Central Christian College of Kansas, against 26% at Independence 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.