Head-to-head comparison
Missouri State University-West Plains vs Cottey College: which has better ROI?
Option A West Plains, MO
Missouri State University-West Plains
- Net price / year
- $9,750
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,922
- 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 Missouri State University-West Plains comes closer — median earnings $36,922 against a $19,500 total, vs $35,422 at Cottey College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Missouri State University-West Plains | Cottey College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,750 | $13,805 |
| Total net cost | $19,500 | $55,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,922 | $35,422 |
| Median debt | $10,000 | $19,043 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$248,260 | -$313,980 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Missouri State University-West Plains or Cottey College?
Missouri State University-West Plains, at $9,750 a year after aid versus $13,805 — a gap of $4,055 a year, or $35,720 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 Missouri State University-West Plains or Cottey College graduates earn more?
Missouri State University-West Plains graduates report a median $36,922 ten years after entry, $1,500 more than the $35,422 at Cottey 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, Missouri State University-West Plains or Cottey College?
Missouri State University-West Plains: its completers carry a median $10,000 in federal loans versus $19,043 at Cottey College, a difference of $9,043. 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?
56% of students finish at Cottey College, against 41% at Missouri State University-West Plains. 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.