Head-to-head comparison
Midwest Technical Institute-Missouri vs Cottey College: which has better ROI?
Option A Springfield, MO
Midwest Technical Institute-Missouri
- Net price / year
- $26,023
- Earnings, 10 years
- $33,601
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Nevada, MO
Cottey College
- Net price / year
- $13,805
- Earnings, 10 years
- $35,422
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Cottey College comes closer — median earnings $35,422 against a $55,220 total, vs $33,601 at Midwest Technical Institute-Missouri. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Midwest Technical Institute-Missouri | Cottey College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $26,023 | $13,805 |
| Total net cost | $104,092 | $55,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $33,601 | $35,422 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $19,043 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$399,272 | -$313,980 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Midwest Technical Institute-Missouri or Cottey College?
Cottey College, at $13,805 a year after aid versus $26,023 — a gap of $12,218 a year, or $48,872 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 Midwest Technical Institute-Missouri or Cottey College graduates earn more?
Cottey College graduates report a median $35,422 ten years after entry, $1,821 more than the $33,601 at Midwest Technical Institute-Missouri. 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, Midwest Technical Institute-Missouri or Cottey College?
Midwest Technical Institute-Missouri: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $19,043 at Cottey College, a difference of $9,543. 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?
80% of students finish at Midwest Technical Institute-Missouri, against 56% at Cottey 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.