Head-to-head comparison
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City vs University of Missouri-Kansas City: which has better ROI?
Option A Kansas City, MO
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City
- Net price / year
- $8,398
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,796
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Kansas City, MO
University of Missouri-Kansas City
- Net price / year
- $13,310
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,637
- Payback
- 4.7 yrs
University of Missouri-Kansas City has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $53,240 in 4.7 years versus not at all at Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City, on median earnings of $59,637 vs $40,796 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City | University of Missouri-Kansas City |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,398 | $13,310 |
| Total net cost | $16,796 | $53,240 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,796 | $59,637 |
| Median debt | $10,073 | $18,750 |
| Payback | — | 4.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$168,076 | $172,300 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City or University of Missouri-Kansas City?
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City, at $8,398 a year after aid versus $13,310 — a gap of $4,912 a year, or $36,444 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 Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City or University of Missouri-Kansas City graduates earn more?
University of Missouri-Kansas City graduates report a median $59,637 ten years after entry, $18,841 more than the $40,796 at Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City. 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, Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City or University of Missouri-Kansas City?
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City: its completers carry a median $10,073 in federal loans versus $18,750 at University of Missouri-Kansas City, a difference of $8,677. 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?
55% of students finish at University of Missouri-Kansas City, against 34% at Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City. 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.