Head-to-head comparison
Inver Hills Community College vs University of Northwestern-St Paul: 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 Saint Paul, MN
University of Northwestern-St Paul
- Net price / year
- $27,705
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,755
- Payback
- 46.3 yrs
Inver Hills Community College has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $23,272 in 15.1 years versus 46.3 years at University of Northwestern-St Paul, on median earnings of $49,898 vs $50,755 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Inver Hills Community College | University of Northwestern-St Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,636 | $27,705 |
| Total net cost | $23,272 | $110,820 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,898 | $50,755 |
| Median debt | $13,965 | $21,325 |
| Payback | 15.1 yrs | 46.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $7,488 | -$62,920 |
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 Northwestern-St Paul?
Inver Hills Community College, at $11,636 a year after aid versus $27,705 — a gap of $16,069 a year, or $87,548 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 Northwestern-St Paul graduates earn more?
University of Northwestern-St Paul graduates report a median $50,755 ten years after entry, $857 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 Northwestern-St Paul?
Inver Hills Community College: its completers carry a median $13,965 in federal loans versus $21,325 at University of Northwestern-St Paul, a difference of $7,360. 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?
68% of students finish at University of Northwestern-St Paul, 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.