Head-to-head comparison
Jefferson Community and Technical College vs Bellarmine University: which has better ROI?
Option A Louisville, KY
Jefferson Community and Technical College
- Net price / year
- $6,376
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,171
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Louisville, KY
Bellarmine University
- Net price / year
- $21,499
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,069
- Payback
- 6.3 yrs
Bellarmine University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $85,996 in 6.3 years versus not at all at Jefferson Community and Technical College, on median earnings of $62,069 vs $38,171 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Jefferson Community and Technical College | Bellarmine University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,376 | $21,499 |
| Total net cost | $25,504 | $85,996 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,171 | $62,069 |
| Median debt | $11,651 | $25,000 |
| Payback | — | 6.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$229,284 | $188,184 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Jefferson Community and Technical College or Bellarmine University?
Jefferson Community and Technical College, at $6,376 a year after aid versus $21,499 — a gap of $15,123 a year, or $60,492 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 Jefferson Community and Technical College or Bellarmine University graduates earn more?
Bellarmine University graduates report a median $62,069 ten years after entry, $23,898 more than the $38,171 at Jefferson Community and Technical 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, Jefferson Community and Technical College or Bellarmine University?
Jefferson Community and Technical College: its completers carry a median $11,651 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Bellarmine University, a difference of $13,349. 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?
64% of students finish at Bellarmine University, against 35% at Jefferson Community and Technical 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.