Head-to-head comparison
Jackson College vs College for Creative Studies: which has better ROI?
Option A Jackson, MI
Jackson College
- Net price / year
- $7,761
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,898
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Detroit, MI
College for Creative Studies
- Net price / year
- $34,617
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,860
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but College for Creative Studies comes closer — median earnings $44,860 against a $138,468 total, vs $36,898 at Jackson College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Jackson College | College for Creative Studies |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,761 | $34,617 |
| Total net cost | $31,044 | $138,468 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,898 | $44,860 |
| Median debt | $13,875 | $26,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$260,284 | -$208,468 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Jackson College or College for Creative Studies?
Jackson College, at $7,761 a year after aid versus $34,617 — a gap of $26,856 a year, or $107,424 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 Jackson College or College for Creative Studies graduates earn more?
College for Creative Studies graduates report a median $44,860 ten years after entry, $7,962 more than the $36,898 at Jackson 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, Jackson College or College for Creative Studies?
Jackson College: its completers carry a median $13,875 in federal loans versus $26,000 at College for Creative Studies, a difference of $12,125. 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?
71% of students finish at College for Creative Studies, against 16% at Jackson 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.