Head-to-head comparison
Inver Hills Community College vs Northwestern Health Sciences University: which has better ROI?
Option A Inver Grove Heights, MN
Inver Hills Community College
- Net price / year
- $11,636
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,898
- Payback
- 15.1 yrs
Option B Bloomington, MN
Northwestern Health Sciences University
- Net price / year
- $35,887
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,666
- Payback
- 234.6 yrs
Inver Hills Community College has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $23,272 in 15.1 years versus 234.6 years at Northwestern Health Sciences University, on median earnings of $49,898 vs $48,666 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Inver Hills Community College | Northwestern Health Sciences University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,636 | $35,887 |
| Total net cost | $23,272 | $71,774 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,898 | $48,666 |
| Median debt | $13,965 | $7,500 |
| Payback | 15.1 yrs | 234.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $7,488 | -$65,654 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Inver Hills Community College or Northwestern Health Sciences University?
Inver Hills Community College, at $11,636 a year after aid versus $35,887 — a gap of $24,251 a year, or $48,502 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 Inver Hills Community College or Northwestern Health Sciences University graduates earn more?
Inver Hills Community College graduates report a median $49,898 ten years after entry, $1,232 more than the $48,666 at Northwestern Health Sciences University. 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, Inver Hills Community College or Northwestern Health Sciences University?
Northwestern Health Sciences University: its completers carry a median $7,500 in federal loans versus $13,965 at Inver Hills Community College, a difference of $6,465. 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?
24% of students finish at Inver Hills Community College, against 0% at Northwestern Health Sciences University. 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.