Head-to-head comparison
Missouri Western State University vs Cottey College: which has better ROI?
Option A Saint Joseph, MO
Missouri Western State University
- Net price / year
- $13,251
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,647
- 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 Western State University comes closer — median earnings $42,647 against a $53,004 total, vs $35,422 at Cottey College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Missouri Western State University | Cottey College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,251 | $13,805 |
| Total net cost | $53,004 | $55,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,647 | $35,422 |
| Median debt | $19,968 | $19,043 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$167,264 | -$313,980 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Missouri Western State University or Cottey College?
Missouri Western State University, at $13,251 a year after aid versus $13,805 — a gap of $554 a year, or $2,216 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 Western State University or Cottey College graduates earn more?
Missouri Western State University graduates report a median $42,647 ten years after entry, $7,225 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 Western State University or Cottey College?
Cottey College: its completers carry a median $19,043 in federal loans versus $19,968 at Missouri Western State University, a difference of $925. 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 39% at Missouri Western State 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.