Head-to-head comparison
Inver Hills Community College vs University of Minnesota-Morris: 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 Morris, MN
University of Minnesota-Morris
- Net price / year
- $8,837
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,919
- Payback
- 13.8 yrs
University of Minnesota-Morris has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $35,348 in 13.8 years versus 15.1 years at Inver Hills Community College, on median earnings of $50,919 vs $49,898 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Inver Hills Community College | University of Minnesota-Morris |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,636 | $8,837 |
| Total net cost | $23,272 | $35,348 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,898 | $50,919 |
| Median debt | $13,965 | $18,995 |
| Payback | 15.1 yrs | 13.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $7,488 | $15,832 |
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 University of Minnesota-Morris?
University of Minnesota-Morris, at $8,837 a year after aid versus $11,636 — a gap of $2,799 a year, or $12,076 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 University of Minnesota-Morris graduates earn more?
University of Minnesota-Morris graduates report a median $50,919 ten years after entry, $1,021 more than the $49,898 at Inver Hills 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, Inver Hills Community College or University of Minnesota-Morris?
Inver Hills Community College: its completers carry a median $13,965 in federal loans versus $18,995 at University of Minnesota-Morris, a difference of $5,030. 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?
63% of students finish at University of Minnesota-Morris, against 24% at Inver Hills 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.