Head-to-head comparison
Rust College vs Blue Cliff College-Gulfport: which has better ROI?
Option A Holly Springs, MS
Rust College
- Net price / year
- $12,587
- Earnings, 10 years
- $32,275
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Gulfport, MS
Blue Cliff College-Gulfport
- Net price / year
- $8,252
- Earnings, 10 years
- $22,177
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Rust College comes closer — median earnings $32,275 against a $50,348 total, vs $22,177 at Blue Cliff College-Gulfport. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Rust College | Blue Cliff College-Gulfport |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,587 | $8,252 |
| Total net cost | $50,348 | $33,008 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,275 | $22,177 |
| Median debt | $26,159 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$372,048 | -$556,668 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Rust College or Blue Cliff College-Gulfport?
Blue Cliff College-Gulfport, at $8,252 a year after aid versus $12,587 — a gap of $4,335 a year, or $17,340 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 Rust College or Blue Cliff College-Gulfport graduates earn more?
Rust College graduates report a median $32,275 ten years after entry, $10,098 more than the $22,177 at Blue Cliff College-Gulfport. 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, Rust College or Blue Cliff College-Gulfport?
Blue Cliff College-Gulfport: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $26,159 at Rust College, a difference of $16,659. 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?
70% of students finish at Blue Cliff College-Gulfport, against 12% at Rust 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.