Head-to-head comparison
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor vs Washtenaw Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Ann Arbor, MI
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
- Net price / year
- $13,138
- Earnings, 10 years
- $83,648
- Payback
- 1.5 yrs
Option B Ann Arbor, MI
Washtenaw Community College
- Net price / year
- $3,249
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,449
- Payback
- No payback
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $52,552 in 1.5 years versus not at all at Washtenaw Community College, on median earnings of $83,648 vs $39,449 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | Washtenaw Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,138 | $3,249 |
| Total net cost | $52,552 | $12,996 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $83,648 | $39,449 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $13,310 |
| Payback | 1.5 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $653,208 | -$191,216 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor or Washtenaw Community College?
Washtenaw Community College, at $3,249 a year after aid versus $13,138 — a gap of $9,889 a year, or $39,556 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 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor or Washtenaw Community College graduates earn more?
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor graduates report a median $83,648 ten years after entry, $44,199 more than the $39,449 at Washtenaw Community 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, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor or Washtenaw Community College?
Washtenaw Community College: its completers carry a median $13,310 in federal loans versus $19,500 at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, a difference of $6,190. 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?
93% of students finish at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, against 33% at Washtenaw Community 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.