Head-to-head comparison
MidAmerica Nazarene University vs Manhattan Area Technical College: which has better ROI?
Option A Olathe, KS
MidAmerica Nazarene University
- Net price / year
- $32,165
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,972
- Payback
- 8.8 yrs
Option B Manhattan, KS
Manhattan Area Technical College
- Net price / year
- $10,074
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,864
- Payback
- 11.5 yrs
MidAmerica Nazarene University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $128,660 in 8.8 years versus 11.5 years at Manhattan Area Technical College, on median earnings of $62,972 vs $51,864 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | MidAmerica Nazarene University | Manhattan Area Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $32,165 | $10,074 |
| Total net cost | $128,660 | $40,296 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,972 | $51,864 |
| Median debt | $15,000 | $9,500 |
| Payback | 8.8 yrs | 11.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $163,580 | $29,784 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, MidAmerica Nazarene University or Manhattan Area Technical College?
Manhattan Area Technical College, at $10,074 a year after aid versus $32,165 — a gap of $22,091 a year, or $88,364 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 MidAmerica Nazarene University or Manhattan Area Technical College graduates earn more?
MidAmerica Nazarene University graduates report a median $62,972 ten years after entry, $11,108 more than the $51,864 at Manhattan Area 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, MidAmerica Nazarene University or Manhattan Area Technical College?
Manhattan Area Technical College: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $15,000 at MidAmerica Nazarene University, a difference of $5,500. 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?
74% of students finish at Manhattan Area Technical College, against 54% at MidAmerica Nazarene University. 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.